Re-signifying the Sacred: Visual, Digital, and Performative Strategies in Youth Interfaith Peacebuilding

چکیده

In Iran, where Christians form a small recognized religious minority, Muslim and Christian youth are quietly re-signifying sacred symbols through visual, digital, and performative strategies to promote interfaith understanding and peaceful coexistence. This convergent parallel mixed-methods study, conducted entirely in Iran (Tehran, Isfahan, and Iranian digital platforms, 2020–2021), explores how 312 young people aged 18–30 repurpose religious icons, calligraphy, rituals, and digital aesthetics to construct shared meanings within a politically sensitive context. Grounded in social semiotics (Kress & van Leeuwen, 2006) and performative theory (Butler, 1990; Schechner, 2013), the research conceptualizes “re-signification of the sacred” as the deliberate transformation of traditional symbols into hybrid, relational resources that navigate doctrinal boundaries, cultural expectations, and state oversight. The study integrates (1) a quantitative stratified survey (n=312), (2) qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups (n=46), and (3) multimodal digital content analysis of 987 posts from Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube. Three core themes emerged: (1) visual re-signification through hybrid calligraphy, shared peace icons, and culturally fused imagery; (2) digital and performative strategies such as subtle collaborative storytelling and low-profile ritual blending; and (3) navigation of structural constraints including self-censorship, platform surveillance, minority visibility concerns, and socio-political pressures. Quantitative findings showed moderate positive associations between engagement in re-signification practices and improved intergroup attitudes (r = .41, p < .01). Qualitative data revealed sophisticated yet cautious semiotic agency, with youth prioritizing relational harmony while managing risk. This study contributes to semiotics, peacebuilding, and Iranian studies by illustrating how youth creatively re-signify the sacred under conditions of religious asymmetry. Implications for culturally sensitive interfaith initiatives and digital literacy programs in Iran are discussed.