What is the religion of George Clooney’s fiancé, Ms. Amal Alamduddin? Druze? Muslim?

[cbayer]

http://omidsafi.religionnews.com/2014/04/29/george-clooney-amal-alamuddin/

Omid Safi | Apr 29, 2014


Ms. Amal Alamuddin from Ms. Alamuddin's barrister website.

The news that George Clooney, the perpetual bachelor, had gotten engaged to Amal Alamuddin, a stunning Arab beauty, who (ahem, ahem) is also a badass brainy Oxford-educated international human rights lawyer—pardon us, barrister—has now officially gone viral.

On social media, many professional women, in their 30s and 40s, have expressed joy that Clooney was wedding a brainy (Ok, and stunning) professional woman.

Many human rights activists see this as an opportunity to bring attention to catastrophes like Syria.

Many Arabs are naturally seeing this as a confirmation of the attractiveness of Arabs. [Just check out the outburst of pride on FB!]

- See more at: http://omidsafi.religionnews.com/2014/04/29/george-clooney-amal-alamuddin/#sthash.7UkSjZsl.dpuf

[rug]

1. I remember during the Lebanese Civil War there was a lot of angling for Druze support.

It's good to finally learn their history.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Or maybe she's not religious

If the Daily Mail has got it right, her father is Druze, and her mother 'mainstream' Muslim:

Miss Alamuddin's family are religious and belong to the Druze sect, an offshoot of Islam which is noted for its opposition to interfaith marriages.

Amal's father Ramzi, a retired professor of business studies at the American University of Beirut, is understood to be Druze, as was his father Khalil, who was a doctor and the Director of Beirut’s American University Hospital.

But Ramzi married outside the Druze faith and is believed to have met Amal’s mother Baria in a nightclub in Beirut. A family friend has said they believe she is 'not Druze'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614827/The-rise-woman-soon-Mrs-George-Clooney.html

Alamuddin’s mom Baria Alamuddin, foreign editor of the Arabic newspaper Al Hayat in the family's naive Lebanon, is a regular TV news analyst, offering insight on Mideast affairs for CNN, Al Jazeera, CNBC, BBC and Sky News. Baria Alamuddin has said she believes she plays a role in linking the moderate Muslim world to the West.

http://www.talkentertainment.com/c-50488-George-Clooney-and-fiance-Amal-Alamuddin-each-have-a-parent-who-work-in-TV-news.aspx

[cbayer]

5. She may not be religious.

But her cultural/religious identity could be very interesting.

[Goblinmonger]

3. Or, why should we possibly give a shit?

I thought this stuff wasn't supposed to matter.

[trotsky]

4. My thoughts exactly.

It matters only to her and Mr. Clooney - none of the rest of us SHOULD give a shit.

[2naSalit]

6. That's what I think too.

The question for the OP is, "So what's it matter to you?" Is it even any of your business?

[TM99]

7. I also find it interesting

not because of the 'gossipy' side of it but because Clooney is a very prominent activist for the Democratic Party.

Having such an intelligent (and beautiful) spouse who represents not one but perhaps two very misunderstood and maligned religions in America could mean educating many out of their Islamophobia as well as introducing many to a fascinating minority religion - Druze. Sadly, I see that bigotry even within the ranks of liberals and progressives.

Personally, I find Druze quite interesting due to the syncretism of the various traditions that make up the religion. I have been interested in Pythagorean traditions since my undergraduate philosophy days. I studied Gnosticism in some depth in graduate school. And in my studies of Arabic and Hellenistic astrology, I have become quite fascinated with the time period just before Druze emerged. Right after the flowering of knowledge that occurred in Baghdad between 700 and 900 CE, many interesting esoteric traditions re-emerged including Druze, neo-Gnosticism with such groups as the Waldensians, Qabbalists in Spain, etc.

How very interesting indeed.

[cbayer]

8. Exactly, and I'm going to guess that her political leanings are in line with his.

She is indeed both beautiful and intelligent. I've always like Clooney and have been impressed that he did not choose a partner for so long. It meant to me that he was going to do this very thoughtfully, because he could have had pretty much anyone he wanted.

I was not at all familiar with Druze and appreciated the information in the article.

And I am very hopeful that they become a powerful and positive political force.