Social Inquiry
Transitions and Changes in the Spirituality of Migrants: A Case Study with Rural Youth from Peru
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Juan Dejo Bendezú, Mariana Dupuy
The paper presents the first step of a research focused on the spiritual experience of a group of young people from rural extraction who have migrated to an urban context to pursue higher studies. This research, which follows the grounded theory model, is based on a set of semi-structured interviews as well as the longitudinal analysis of various cohorts of students of Andean and Amazonian origin, in the period 2016-2022. Through this work, the authors will intend to explore a series of categories related to: a) the processes of cultural transition and the way in which they are interwoven in human displacements in the same territorial space, b) the phenomena of beliefs in supernatural entities rooted in the forces of nature and, c) the way in which these beliefs survive in a “postmodern” environment. Through this analysis, it is possible to explore the intercultural dialogue that occurs from the origin of these beliefs, already hybridized by rural Christianity, to which myths and stories of contemporary global society are superimposed. As a result, religious and spiritual practices evolved in various types of agency over reality, different and alternative to those of the traditional molds of Christian popular religiosity.
Featured Respecting, Ensuring and Promoting Migrants’ Right to Religious Freedom so as to Achieve Their Social Integration?: The Cases of Italy and Spain View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Núria Reguart-Segarra
Human beings move and, along with them, so do their religious beliefs and practices. Indeed, the religious traditions of people who migrate tend to represent a nuclear element of their identity hallmarks in which they find a point of community connection. Religion catalyzes migrants’ social belonging through the establishment of links within communities of believers, in which they find a respectful space that welcomes them and brings them closer to their countries of origin. Their religious freedom, both individually and collectively, is therefore a key right that emanates from their own human dignity and which they must fully enjoy in order to feel that they are an integral part of the society that receives them on equal terms with national citizens. The pluralism on which advanced societies draw depends on this, that is, on a real integration of migrants in the host society that involves the acceptance and recognition of the particularities and values of the newcomers, thus overcoming outdated assimilationist strategies capable of halting social progress and tolerance for diversity. The relevance of attaining this implies a real challenge for both public authorities and all the other social actors. Based on the above, this presentation aims at assessing the effectiveness of migrants’ right to religious freedom in the selected states and whether respecting, ensuring and promoting it might actually contribute to achieving their social integration, by mainly taking into account the two major obstacles observed: governmental restrictions on religious freedom and social conflicts and discrimination based on religion.
Religious Trauma: A Phenomenological Inquiry into Impacts on Millennials View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sarah Farrell
Religion and spirituality have been better understood as independent entities or as protective factors, creating support for individuals. However, a paucity of research exists on the impacts of growing up religious and the trauma that can result from exposure to religious tenets. Through phenomenological inquiry into millennial experiences growing up in the evangelical church, the phenomena of religious trauma is examined through the lens of stories. Stories of trauma resulting from religious upbringing have been prolific in mainstream literature and social media, yet little attention has been garnered by the topic within the empirical research community. A further purpose of this study is to generate and operationalize variables for future research and create groundwork for quantitative analysis. Coded qualitative data gathered in eight interviews from participants in a national sample demonstrate strong themes independent of demographics or geographic area. International participant acts as a control and further strengthens analysis of coded qualitative data. Understanding of the phenomenon benefits individuals, clergy, and religious institutions who may desire knowledge of poor outcomes.
