Religious and National Identification in the Republic of Cyprus

Religion’s role in civil society is twofold. It is a homogenizer and a provider of social cohesion, yet at the same time a disruptor of it. Religious identification in the Republic of Cyprus became the mean of separation of the two ethnic communities residing in the island. The Constitution of the Republic provides that those that are faithful members of the Greek-Orthodox Church belong in the Greek-Cypriot community, and Muslims in the Turkish-Cypriot community. This thesis is concerned with the Republic of Cyprus (Greek-Cypriot community) and aims in exploring “How young adults in Cyprus link their religion to their sense of national identity?” The conflation of religion and national identity in Cyprus has been, to a great extent, the product of political/nationalist imperatives. The stronger the role of religion in society, the more the members of religious minority communities can perceive their religion as an aspect that disturbs feelings of affiliation to their nation. This thesis will explore how young adults in Cyprus of ethnic and religious majority/minorities perceive their religion and how it is linked to their national identity. As an ideological system, religion is manifested in governmental structures and policy systems. National educational systems are considered key agents and homogenizers of ideological beliefs on national perspectives. As education is linked with identity formation, this thesis explored as a second research question “What is the role of Cypriotic Religious Education in the formation of national identity?” Previous research on religious education in Cyprus suggests that the lesson offers exclusive narratives of ethno-religious identity and fails to cultivate tolerant attitudes for students. The theoretical framework of this thesis discussed three main concepts, namely, the distinction between ethnic and civic national identity, social identity complexity and secularization. The concepts were explored and linked to Christian-Orthodoxy’s historical stronghold in the Cypriot society and its influence on educational structures. In answering both research questions, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants of various religious and ethnic groups residing in Cyprus. The research employed a grounded theory approach combined with the use of narrative analysis for data collection and assessment. The key findings support that the Christian Orthodox religion does not constitute a characteristic in national self-identification, but its role for young adults is confined as a cultural element of their nation. For religious and/or ethnic minorities in the country, their difference in religion is not an aspect that disturbs feelings of affiliation to the Cypriot nation-state, yet in instances it results in societal and institutional discrimination. Religious education in Cyprus is perceived by participants as a dogmatic lesson that strongly projects the link between the Christian-Orthodox religion and the Cypriot nation-state. Former students of religious minorities argued that the structure of religious education in Cyprus, and the policy of exemption, make them realize their position as outgroups in the school community.