ALBANIANS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AND THE RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
ALBANIANS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AND THE RELIGIOUS IDENTITY

Summary/Abstract: It is a known fact that European nations are created under certain historical circumstances. Some as a result of centralized state systems developments, while others as a result of cultural developments. Albanians, as other Balkan nations, were created within the system of the Ottoman Empire, based on their background, common language, and relying on the glorious historical past. Albanians belonged to the Christian religion, but after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the new religion of the East Islam comes with the ruler. Over time, the majority of Albanians embraced the new religion. Thus, within the Ottoman system, Albanians were divided regarding the religious aspect, remaining the only European nation with the religion of the West (Christianity) and the East (Islam). In the circumstances of religious separation and the influence that various religions exerted on the cultural development, the Albanian nation was developed under the influence of Western culture as well as of the Eastern one. In the period of national movements for liberation from the Ottoman Empire, the religious compatibility of the Balkan Christians played an extraordinary role in the liberation fight and the creation of national states. During this period, for the Albanians, on the contrary, the religious division exerted a negative influence, weakening the domestic political power. The Balkan Anti-Albanian circles, like the Ottoman Empire itself, exploited the Albanians religious division. Despite the fact that Albanians consider themselves a European nation, as a result of the Islamic religion influence, various dilemmas continue to exist.

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