Interfaith photovoice: an example of Muslim-Christian engagement in Canada

Abstract

Religion is highly visible in the daily activities of Canadians yet the visibility of religious diversity has become a source of tension and conflict. The Interfaith Photovoice (IFPV) Initiative harnesses the visibility of religion and uses the photovoice process to strengthen relationships between Muslims and Christians, bridge cultural divides, encourage mutual advocacy, and engage communities around questions of faith and religious diversity. This article highlights the work of IFPV participants from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada through the qualitative analysis of thirty-nine images and six interviews with Christian and Muslim university students utilising a theoretical framework of deep equality and lived religion. The results of visual content analysis, which focused on cross-photo comparison, are supported by evidence from the interview data. The findings are explained under the themes of public religious spaces, religious and symbolic clothing, and institutions and gender. The IFPV process facilitated the development of agonistic respect between religiously diverse women and men on a secular campus in a pluralistic city, showing that religious freedom must include the choice to be seen as religious.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

[1] Consent included the use of the participants' first names and the inclusion of all participant generated photographs and researcher generated photographs of the research participants by the research team in the dissemination of the findings including publications and on the Interfaith Photovoice Initiative website: https://interfaithphotovoice.org/.

[2] Three additional men (1 Christian and 2 Muslims) participated in only one or two sessions but did not contribute photos.

[3] The questions were developed by the IFPV Initiative research team and used in each site.

[4] Images from the Fredericton students can be viewed with those from the US sites on the IFPV Initiative website: https://interfaithphotovoice.org.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Louisville Institute [2017104].

Notes on contributors

Catherine Holtmann

Dr. Catherine Holtmann, Associate Professor, Sociology, University of New Brunswick; [email protected] Catherine is the Director of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research and her research focuses on religion and gender, immigrants and family violence.

Emma Robinson

Ms. Emma Robinson, Masters Student, Sociology, University of New Brunswick. [email protected] Emma is completing her master's research with a focus on religion and sexual violence.

Roman Williams

Dr. Roman Williams, Research Fellow, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, and Executive Officer of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. [email protected] Roman employs the techniques of visual sociology to conduct ethnographic research, engage stakeholders, and imagine ways to put their insights into action.