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Islam and Roman Catholocism were the two primary religions in French colonial Algeria. The French colonization of Algeria was perhaps the most intimate colision with the West experienced by any Muslim country. It was also the first time since the Crusades that Muslims in thevMiddle-East/North Africa found themselves under Christian rule since the Crusades. Early resistance to France was led by Abd al-Qadir and had a significant Islamic component. Many Islamic scholars during the French colonial period left Algeria, taking up residence in neigboring Arab countries as well as Egypt, Syria, and the Hijaz. Within Algeria there were many rebellions. Many were led by Sufi orders or other Islamic elements. As a result of the failed rebellions, some Algerian leaders began to promote the idea of cooperatiin with the French to secure concessions for Muslim cultural, political, and economic rights in colonial Algeria. As military revolts subsided and France entered the Srramble for Africa in Sub-Sahara Africa, the country tended to develop a more tolerant attitude toward Islam. This reflected French efforts to work with Muslims in their new colonies, especially West Africa. French Islamic specialists worked closely with Algerian scholars. The French helped promote the International Congress of Orientalists at Algiers (1905). Ironically, it was not Catholocism, but France's growing secular traditions that alienated many Muslims. The French parliament passed a law separating religion and state (1905). French Catholics could accept a secular school system. The conceot was alien and unacceptable to even the loyal colonial Algerian Islamic religious establishment. I am not sure how many Algerians converted to Catholocism. We suspect relatively few. Without state sabctions, however, it was more difficult for Islamic authorities to maintain a strict commitment ton Islam. French colonists who cane to Algeria were uniformily Catholic, although varies in their devotion. Virtuallu none of the colonists converted to Islam. They oracticed their Catholic faith as if they were in France. Catholic churches were built in the various communities where the French settled.
Islam and Roman Catholocism were the two primary religions in French colonial Algeria. The French colonization of Algeria was perhaps the most intimate colision with the West experienced by any Muslim country. It was also the first time since the Crusades that Muslims in the Middle-East/North Africa found themselves under Christian rule. The Algerian experience under French colonial rule (1830-1962) thus ranks as one of the most intense if not the mostintense experience of Muslims under Christian rule. The French colonial rulers after arriving in Algeria set about attempting to undermine traditional Muslim Algerian culture. And for the Algerians, a Muslim society permanently subject to Christian or other non-Muslim rule is unacceptable. As a result, Islam was fromthe beginning a key element in the resistance to the French. [Deeb] There were repeated Algerian rebellions along with a substahtial influx of European settlers. Many Algerian Muslims, mostly in the cities, were exposed to French schooling and compulsory military service. Many men went to Frace seeking work which was not available in Algeria because of the backward economy. This entire experience climaxed with a bitter 7-year revolutionary conflict (1950s leading to independence. This experience had an impact on Islamic thought relecting broader trends in the modern Islamic world.
Early resistance to France was led by Abd al-Qadir and had a significant Islamic component. Many Islamic scholars during the French colonial period left Algeria, taking up residence in neigboring Arab countries as well as Egypt, Syria, and the Hijaz. Within Algeria there were many rebellions. Many were led by Sufi orders or other Islamic elements. The French Foreign Legion became famous for fighting these rebellions.
As a result of the failed rebellions, some Algerian leaders began to promote the idea of cooperatiin with the French to secure concessions for Muslim cultural, political, and economic rights in colonial Algeria. Some Muslims advocated reform and self-strengthening of Muslim society. An importantt adviocate of such an approach was al-Makki Bin Badis, a Sharia judge in Constantine, He helped to establish a merit-based Islamic judicial bureaucracy (1860s). Abd al-Qadir al-Majjawi, a notable Islamic educator promoted scientific study which until the arival of the French was virtually non-existent. He pointed out to Algerians that earlier Islamic scholars (until the 12th century) had made important contribution to science.
As Algerian military revolts subsided and France entered the Scramble for Africa in Sub-Sahara Africa, the French tended to develop a more tolerant attitude toward Islam. This reflected Frenchefforts to work with Muslims in their new colonies, especially West Africa. French Islamic specialists worked closely with Algerian scholars.
The French helped promote the International Congress of Orientalists at Algiers (1905).
Ironically, it was not Catholocism, but France's growing secular traditions that alienated many Muslims. Muslim society as delineated in the Koran is athetical to secular society. This can be obsved throughout the Musdlim world today. The French parliament passed a law separating religion and state (1905). The Koran makes it clear that religion and state are irevocably fused. French Catholics could accept a secular school system. The concept was alien an unacceptable to even the loyal colonial Algerian Islamic religious establishment.
We are not sure how many Algerians converted to Catholocism. We suspect relatively few, but there were some. Without state imposed sanctions, it was difficult for Islamic authorities to maintain a strict commitment to Islam, especially in the cities. There wee, hoiwever, strong cultural factor in the rurl areas where there was relatively limited contact with the French. We do not know how many of the converts accompnied the French settlers when they returned to France. North Africns in France today are overwealmingky Muslim.
Christianity arrived in North Africa during the Roman era. While Christianity began in Palestine, it probably did not arrive from there, but rather as a result of trade with Rome itself. The practice of Christianity declined as Rome fell and the pagan vadals invaded from the west. This changed with the arrival of the Byzantines who controlled Algeria for a brief period. The Arabs invaed from the east (7th century). Algeria was gradually Arabized and Islamicized. Unlike Egypt, Christianity virtually disappeared despite the steady supply of Christian slaves seized by Muslim corsairs. A small Jewish community survived.
French colonization reintroduced Christianity to Algeria. French colonists who cane to Algeria were uniformily Catholic, although varies in their devotion. Churches were built by the colonists. And along with secular schools there were alsio some Catholic schools. Virtually none of the colonists converted to Islam. Catholic missionaries came to Algeria, but made littlke headway with the Algerians in cotrast to the impact they had in France's Sub-Saharan colonies. The colonists practiced their Catholic faith as if they were in France. Catholic churches were built in the various communities where the French settled. As in France, many settlers did not actively practice their faith, but were culturally Catholic. Photographs from the colonits are virtually indestinuishable from metropolitan France. We see the children doing their First Communiion and servig as altar boys just as boys would do in France. With very few exceptions, the French exited Algeria with independence. This was the end of Chritianity as an important religion in Algeria. Some reports suggestvtht about 2 percent of Algerians are Christians. For some reason there seem to be more Protestats than Cathloics among the country's small Chriustian population. Christians may be investigated by authorities because under Shria Law, conversion is illegal. Other Chritians may be the subject of attacks by Islmic fundamentalistrs. Mgr Pierre Claverie, bishop of Oran, was assassinated by terrorists (1996). Erlier seven Trappistes monks of Tibérine and of six nuns were killed. This ocurred during a wave of Islamic violence that left 0.1-0.2 million Algeriand dead.
Christelow, Allan. Algeria: Arabism and Islamism; Algeria: Muslim Population, 1871-1954.
Deeb, Mary Jane. "Islam and the Algerian State." Algeria Country Study (Federal Research Division, Library of Congress; December 1993).
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