Ethnicity And Religion Flashcards
Brierly (2013) rates of religious participation
There are higher average rates of religious participation among most ethnic minority groups. E.G: in London, Brierly (2013) found that black people are twice as likely to attend church as whites.
Black and whites in Pentecostal churches
Among Christians, blacks are more likely than whites to be found in Pentecostal churches, where they make up 40% of the membership.
HOWEVER: Modood et al (1994) found some decline in importance of religion for all ethnic groups and that fewer were observant, especially among the second generation.
Reasons for ethnic differences in religion
Cultural defence
Cultural transition
most ethnic minorities come from poorer countries with traditional cultures, both of which produce high levels of religious belief and practice .
Cultural defence
As Bird (1999) notes, religion among minorities can be a basis for community solidarity, a means of preserving culture and language, and a way of coping with oppression in a racist society.
White churches attitude to black Christian’s
In the case of black African and Caribbean Christians, many found that white churches in the UK did not actively welcome them and some turned to founding or joining black-led churches, especially Pentecostal churches.
Brierly (2013): There has been a significant growth of new churches in London catering for specific languages and nationalities as a result of recent immigration.
Herberg (1995) Cultural transition
Religion can be a means of easing the transition into a new culture by providing support and a sense of community for minority groups in their new environment. E.G this explains the high level of participation among first generation immigrants in the USA. When feeling like an ‘other’ in a new place or country, many ethnic minorities can find community and support in churches
(Bruce) cultural transition
Bruce sees a similar pattern in the history of immigration into the UK, where religion has provided a focal point for Irish, African Caribbean, Muslim, Hindu and other communities. HOWEVER: once a group has made the transition into wider society, religion may lose its role and decline in importance.
Pryce
Pryce (1979): Study of the African Caribbean community in Bristol shows both cultural defence and cultural transition are important. E.G: Pentecostalism helped African Caribbeans to adapt to British society whilst also giving people mutual support and hope of improving their situation.
On the other hand, Rastafarianism represented a different response for some African Caribbeans radically rejecting wider society as racist and exploitative.
Cultural defence (bird/bruce)
Many ethnic minorities suffer racism in society an d as a result they may be more likely to turn to religion and religious communities as a form of support or indeed defence against discrimination e.g Muslims having to utilise religion
A03 Madood- younger generation are less likely to commit
A03 cultural transition
However, once settled in a new country, religion may actually become less important to these people
Migration and globalisation
Migration from typically traditional or heavily religious countries such as South Asia or West Africa has naturally increased levels of religiosity or religious participation in the Uk
E.G. states that in cities like London in particular, we have seen an increase in new churches/ places of worship that cater for a wider range of cultures and religions
