IMAM IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

Abstract

UDK 28-725-428

The article presents the issue and the problem of understanding the role and the mission of an imam in a pluralistic society. It dis-cusses the form of education through which imam is prepared for his service, as well as challenges that are met in his practical per-formance of the vocation that is founded upon main sources of Is-lam. It also analyses the issue of varying social frameworks within which imams work. Further, the article presents classical defini-tions of the role of imam and it discusses the ways of understand-ing the role of spirituality in a secular and open society. The issue of educational system that provides knowledge and skills required for performing this role is analysed here as well. The mission and the role that imam has in a local society is evaluated and compared to his role and the mission that he has among the diaspora. The ar-ticle also deals with the issue of understanding religion, discourse about religion, new social context within which imams act and the difference between the world as understood by children and the world as it is seen by their parents, issues regarding the traditional view of the world, understanding of customs and ethical and moral values based upon Islamic teachings, the issues of authority and tradition and the ways that imams can use to convey the Islamic values to young generations. In the final part of the article we dealt with the issue of developing programmes that could assist imams in spiritual and intellectual competency within their community and that will enable them to establish functional communication with surrounding within which they act.