In recent years, an internal debate has arisen in Saudi Arabia on the legitimacy of Saudi religion and the foundations of Islam. Sparked by concerns such as the absence of divine intervention in the Syrian civil war, the question of the Muslim monopoly on heaven, and politically subversive differentiations between "Saudi religion" and Islam, the challenge within Saudi Arabia to religious orthodoxy has never been greater. Tweeted Heresies explores the emergence of these patterns of non-belief and the responses to them from the Salafi-Wahhabi religious institutions. Previous studies have focused on formal institutions and their role in religious change. Abdullah Hamidaddin focuses on individuals who took advantage of social media during a period of relative freedom of expression to criticize religion and question the most fundamental aspects of Saudi society: its politics, religion, social justice, gender and sexual relations, and the future of the country. These individuals mounted a direct challenge to religious orthodoxy, whether through calls for religious reform or, even more provocatively, debates over concepts of deity, morality, and duty to Allah. For the foreseeable future criticism is limited to virtual spaces, and the conversation was especially active on Twitter. Tweeted Heresies examines a large body of tweets, as well as interviews with Saudis about how their understanding and critique of religion have developed over the course of their lives. The result is a uniquely revealing portrait of an otherwise hidden current of religious change that promises to ultimately transform Saudi society.

IntroductionPublic Space in Saudi ArabiaNon-physical Public Space: From Satellite TV to TwitterChapter 1: Criticizing ReligionReligion, Modernity, and the Secular HorizonThe 'Authenticity/Identity' PrismIslam in Saudi ArabiaReligion and SocietyConclusionChapter 2: Ambivalent ReligiosityAmbivalent Religiosity?Is Saudi Arabian Society 'Religious'?Sin and the Ambivalence of Religion in Saudi ArabiaSinThe Institutionalization of SinModern LawsBankingInternational Scholarship ProgramCelebration of National DaySaudi Society and SinConclusion: Religion as SolidarityChapter 3: Criticizing Religion on TwitterHeresy on Twitter: General overviewSaudi Religion vs IslamDissonant ReligiosityThe Exclusivist Nature of Saudi religionPreoccupation with WomenWahhabismThe Authority of the UlamaCriticism of Obligations and ProhibitionsIndividual ReligiosityQuestioning ReligionAtheism in Saudi ArabiaConclusion: Contours of Criticizing ReligionChapter 4: Religious DisengagementsFirst: The Childhood and Growing Up PhaseA. Religious Families Who Impose Religion on Their ChildrenB. Religious Families Who Do Not Impose Religion on Their ChildrenC. Non-Religious FamiliesSecond: Turning Towards ReligionA. Individual TransformationB. Transformation With Group BelongingC. Disengagement From ReligionConclusionChatper 5: Backlash: Takfir CampaignsOrthodoxy and Heresy in Saudi ArabiaBrief History of Heresy Condemnations: TakfirAccusations of KufrTakfir in Saudi Arabia: before 2012Takfir Campaigns: 2012-2013Takfir PetitionsPerfect TakfirConclusionThe Public and TakfirThe Ulama and TakfirChapter 6: Evolution of Saudi ReligionTwitter Hashtag SourcesIndex