Hajj for the Heart

If I had picked a different major in undergrad it would have been sociology precisely because of studies like this which I find completely fascinating.

The article from Slate originally ran this past April but since the Hajj ends today it's a perfect time for this post...

Last December, more than 2 million Muslims from around the world converged on Saudi Arabia to participate in the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the holy site of Mecca. The Hajjis spent a month performing religious rituals, mingling with Muslims from all walks of life, and, in some cases, taking part in communal chants of "Death to America" led by Islamic extremists.

Such behavior raised concerns that the Hajj is a breeding ground for anti-Western sentiment—or worse.

Then again, the spirit of friendship and community that typically prevails during the Hajj has also been known to promote tolerance and understanding across peoples.

So does the Hajj open minds, or does it expose Muslims to radical views that unite them against the non-Islamic world?

No summary of the article will do it justice so I'm not even going to try, instead I'll just introduce the question and if you're interested click here to access the full study or here to read the entire Slate article.  As I mentioned, it's a fascinating read.