Shi‘ism Unveiled: Italian Converts and Trends of Inculturation

Abstract This article delves into the impact of anti-modern convictions on the doctrinal evolutions of Shi‘ism among Italian converts, employing a synergy between history and sociology. To illustrate this impact, the digital and paper publications of select converts have been analysed. Editorial initiatives serve as primary channels through which converts express their intellectual inclinations and impart a new cultural dimension to Shi‘ism. This new cultural dimension is shaped by the motivations that have driven converts toward religious mobility. In this framework, Shi‘a tenets and its relations with other religions have been redefined based on converts’ socio-psychological needs. As a result, Italian Shi‘ism, with its anti-modern substructure, has acquired certain traits that align it with the pre-political manifestations of the religion. Notably, converts exhibit a preference for metaphysical perspectives over juridical and sociological developments within Shi‘ism, delineating a distinct trajectory in their engagement with the faith.