To address your query, I’ll define the concept of “Abrahamicity” for a citizen and a city, building on the context of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baháʼí Faith, Druze, etc.) from our previous discussion. Since “Abrahamicity” is not a standard term, I’ll interpret it as the degree to which a citizen or city is affiliated with, influenced by, or characterized by Abrahamic religions, based on belief, practice, culture, or demographics. I’ll provide clear definitions and explain how these apply to individuals and cities, ensuring the response is concise yet comprehensive.
Definition of Abrahamicity
Abrahamicity refers to the extent to which an individual (citizen) or a geographic entity (city) is aligned with Abrahamic religions, measured through religious affiliation, cultural influence, institutional presence, or active practice of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or related faiths. These religions share a spiritual or genealogical connection to the figure of Abraham, emphasizing monotheism and a shared theological heritage.
Abrahamicity of a Citizen
The Abrahamicity of a citizen describes an individual’s personal connection to Abrahamic religions, which can manifest through:
- Religious Affiliation: The citizen identifies as a follower of an Abrahamic religion (e.g., Jew, Christian, Muslim, Baháʼí).
- Belief and Practice: The citizen actively believes in or practices the tenets of an Abrahamic religion, such as attending worship services, observing religious holidays (e.g., Passover, Easter, Ramadan), or adhering to religious laws (e.g., Halacha, Sharia).
- Cultural Influence: The citizen’s values, traditions, or worldview are shaped by Abrahamic religious heritage, even if they are not actively religious (e.g., a secular person raised in a Christian or Muslim cultural context).
- Genealogical or Ethnic Ties: The citizen has ancestral or ethnic connections to communities historically associated with Abrahamic religions (e.g., Jewish or Coptic Christian heritage).
Measurement:
- High Abrahamicity: The citizen actively practices an Abrahamic religion, regularly attends religious services, and identifies strongly with its teachings (e.g., a devout Muslim praying five times daily).
- Moderate Abrahamicity: The citizen identifies with an Abrahamic religion but practices irregularly or is culturally influenced without strong belief (e.g., a nominal Christian attending church only on major holidays).
- Low or No Abrahamicity: The citizen is unaffiliated, atheist, or follows a non-Abrahamic religion (e.g., Hindu, Buddhist) with minimal or no Abrahamic influence.
Example: A citizen of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who is a practicing Sunni Muslim, would have high Abrahamicity due to active religious practice and cultural alignment with Islam. A secular Jew in Tel Aviv with cultural ties to Judaism but minimal religious practice would have moderate Abrahamicity.
Abrahamicity of a City
The Abrahamicity of a city describes the collective presence, influence, or dominance of Abrahamic religions within its population, institutions, culture, or governance. This can be assessed through:
- Demographic Composition: The proportion of the city’s population adhering to Abrahamic religions (e.g., percentage of Christians, Muslims, Jews).
- Religious Institutions: The presence and prominence of Abrahamic religious sites (e.g., mosques, churches, synagogues) and organizations.
- Cultural and Historical Influence: The extent to which Abrahamic religions shape the city’s traditions, festivals, architecture, or public life (e.g., Islamic call to prayer in Cairo, Christian cathedrals in Rome).
- Governance and Laws: Whether the city’s local governance or legal framework reflects Abrahamic religious principles (e.g., Sharia-based regulations in certain Middle Eastern cities).
- Public Practice: The visibility of Abrahamic religious practices in public spaces, such as religious festivals, dress codes, or communal worship.
Measurement:
- High Abrahamicity: Over 75% of the population follows Abrahamic religions, with prominent religious institutions and cultural practices (e.g., Mecca, Vatican City).
- Moderate Abrahamicity: 50–75% Abrahamic population, or a secular framework with significant Abrahamic cultural influence (e.g., London, New York).
- Low or No Abrahamicity: Less than 50% Abrahamic population, or a dominant non-Abrahamic or secular culture with minimal Abrahamic influence (e.g., Tokyo, Varanasi).
- Anti-Abrahamic: The city actively suppresses Abrahamic religions through policy or cultural dominance of non-Abrahamic beliefs (rare, but potentially applicable in certain atheist or communist-governed cities).
Example: Jerusalem has high Abrahamicity due to its majority Jewish and Muslim population, sacred sites (e.g., Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque), and deep religious history. Tokyo has low Abrahamicity, with a majority Shinto/Buddhist or unaffiliated population and minimal Abrahamic presence.
Application to G20 Cities
To contextualize, let’s apply this to selected major cities in G20 nations (from the prior discussion), focusing on one representative city per country where relevant:
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Fully Abrahamic): ~90% Muslim population, Islamic governance, mosques dominate the cityscape, and public life revolves around Islamic practices. High Abrahamicity.
- Rome, Italy (Fully Abrahamic): ~80% Christian, home to Vatican City, with Catholic cathedrals and cultural traditions. High Abrahamicity.
- New York City, USA (Fully Abrahamic): ~70% Christian/Jewish, secular governance, diverse religious institutions (churches, synagogues, mosques). Moderate to High Abrahamicity.
- London, UK (Partially Abrahamic): ~59% Christian, ~25% unaffiliated, secular with Anglican influence (e.g., Westminster Abbey). Moderate Abrahamicity.
- Delhi, India (Non-Abrahamic): ~80% Hindu, ~13% Muslim, secular with Hindu cultural dominance. Low to Moderate Abrahamicity.
- Tokyo, Japan (Non-Abrahamic): ~70% Shinto/Buddhist, minimal Abrahamic presence, secular governance. Low Abrahamicity.
- Beijing, China (Anti-Abrahamic): ~50% unaffiliated, state atheism suppresses Abrahamic religions (e.g., restrictions on churches, mosques). Low to Anti-Abrahamic.
Notes and Considerations
- Data Limitations: Exact demographic data for cities is less comprehensive than for nations. Estimates are based on national trends (e.g., Pew Research 2012) and city-specific studies where available.
- Secularity vs. Culture: Cities like London or New York may have secular governance but strong Abrahamic cultural influences, complicating their Abrahamicity.
- Anti-Abrahamic Rarity: Few cities explicitly suppress Abrahamic religions, but Beijing’s policies reflect China’s broader restrictions on religious expression.
- Dynamic Nature: Migration, secularization, and cultural shifts (e.g., growing unaffiliated populations) can alter a city’s Abrahamicity over time.
If you’d like a detailed analysis of specific G20 cities, a chart visualizing Abrahamicity, or further clarification (e.g., using recent X posts or web data), let me know!
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