Islam in the West or Western Islam? The Disconnect of Religion and Culture.

This essay reports on the presence of Muslims and the religion Islam in Europe and its effects on religion and culture. Two models have shaped Western European countries' immigration policies when the bulk of incoming immigrants stay in Europe, the multiculturalism and assimilationism. Multiculturalism fails because of culturalism, while assimilationism fails because it initially ignored the religious dimension of immigrants' identities. Islam is the mirror for Europe in looking at its own identity, but it doe not offer new culture or new values.