The behavior of people is determined by the characteristics of the individual, education, the influence of the group, society, state, situation. Believers are no exception although religious norms have a significant impact on their preferences. In a secular society and state the regulatory function of religion significantly decreased and people have several behavioral choices, because the law is not comprehensive. Sociological theories that consider people’s behavior as a complex system of finding a balance, considering losses and gains, make it possible to better understand the decision-making mechanism of believers. The results of the study of Muslims, Christians and non-religious residents of Tatarstan show that Muslims differ greatly in their normative preferences from Christians (religious marriage, marriage gift, marital rights and obligations, hereditary rules). The behavior patterns of the latter are in many respects similar to the attitudes of non-religious respondents. However, there is controversy inside Muslim community over gender roles: many women have a desire for egalitarian relationships and a balance of interests, while some men prefer to enjoy Sharia rights and ignore religious obligations. Unlike men Muslim women often agree with a non-religious group on disapproval of polygamy. In the situation of choice (hereditary shares) many Muslim women prefer to bypass religious rules that are “unfair” from a modern point of view by appealing to moral values (caring for aging parents) without openly abandoning Sharia.
Key words: Muslims, Christians, religious norms, behavior patterns, secular state, Tatarstan
DOI: 10.22250/20728662_2022_4_159
About the authors
 |
Ilshat A. Mukhametzaripov – Ph.D. (History), Leading Researcher at The Center for Islamic Studies of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences; |
 |
Ilmira R. Gafiyatullina – Researcher at The Center for Islamic Studies of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences; |