Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions
Abstract It is a commonplace in discussions of immigrant religion to speak of how religion aids in the adjustment of migrants to a new culture and society; how it serves as a dimension of continuity in the process of integration. This article examines theoretical foundations for reconsidering this p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
1998-06-01
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| Series: | Horizontes Antropológicos |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-71831998000100012&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1819067526002245632 |
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| author | Peter Beyer |
| author_facet | Peter Beyer |
| author_sort | Peter Beyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract It is a commonplace in discussions of immigrant religion to speak of how religion aids in the adjustment of migrants to a new culture and society; how it serves as a dimension of continuity in the process of integration. This article examines theoretical foundations for reconsidering this perspective in the context of globalization in general and global migration in particular. In a global society, it is far less useful to think of migrants as leaving one society to join another, especially insofar as this optic tends to assume a) that the new “host” culture remains comparatively unaffected while the immigrants culture faces the dilemma of assimilation versus ethnic preservation; and b) that the culture of origin simply loses a few members without much effect by the migrants back onto their cultures of origin. By contrast, the article argues that the consequences of migration are to help (re)define religions in all areas where they are represented; and thus to make distinctions between “core” and “diaspora” far less salient. Instead, different areas where religious traditions are represented are better seen as centres for creating different options for the authentic construction of the same religion; options that are very often in communication with each other. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:19:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0702dda3c2b24885a6b983da233ee481 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1806-9983 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:19:39Z |
| publishDate | 1998-06-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horizontes Antropológicos |
| spelling | doaj.art-0702dda3c2b24885a6b983da233ee4812022-12-21T18:57:35ZengUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulHorizontes Antropológicos1806-99831998-06-0148123310.1590/S0104-71831998000100002S0104-71831998000100012Global migration and the selective reimagining of religionsPeter BeyerAbstract It is a commonplace in discussions of immigrant religion to speak of how religion aids in the adjustment of migrants to a new culture and society; how it serves as a dimension of continuity in the process of integration. This article examines theoretical foundations for reconsidering this perspective in the context of globalization in general and global migration in particular. In a global society, it is far less useful to think of migrants as leaving one society to join another, especially insofar as this optic tends to assume a) that the new “host” culture remains comparatively unaffected while the immigrants culture faces the dilemma of assimilation versus ethnic preservation; and b) that the culture of origin simply loses a few members without much effect by the migrants back onto their cultures of origin. By contrast, the article argues that the consequences of migration are to help (re)define religions in all areas where they are represented; and thus to make distinctions between “core” and “diaspora” far less salient. Instead, different areas where religious traditions are represented are better seen as centres for creating different options for the authentic construction of the same religion; options that are very often in communication with each other.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-71831998000100012&lng=en&tlng=enculturaglobalizaçãomigraçãoreligião |
| spellingShingle | Peter Beyer Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions Horizontes Antropológicos cultura globalização migração religião |
| title | Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| title_full | Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| title_fullStr | Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| title_short | Global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| title_sort | global migration and the selective reimagining of religions |
| topic | cultura globalização migração religião |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-71831998000100012&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterbeyer globalmigrationandtheselectivereimaginingofreligions |