Immigrant Faith (PDF)

Immigrant Faith examines trends and patterns relating to religion in the lives ofimmigrants. The volume moves beyond specific studies of particular faiths inparticular immigrant destinations to present the religious lives of immigrantsin the United States, Canada, and Europe on a broad scale. Religion is not merely one aspect among many in immigrant lives. Immigrant faith affects daily interactions, shapes the future of immigrants intheir destination society, and influences society beyond the immigrantsthemselves. In other words, to understand immigrants, one must understand theirfaith. Drawing on census data and other surveys, including data sources from several countries andstatistical data from thousands of immigrant interviews, the volume provides aconcise overview of immigrant religion. It sheds light on whether religionshapes the choice of destination for migrants, if immigrants are more or lessreligious after migrating, if religious immigrants have an easier adjustment,or if religious migrants tend to fare better or worse economically thannon-religious migrants. Immigrant Faith covers demographic trends from initial migration tosettlement to the transmission of faith to the second generation. It offers theperfect introduction to big picture patterns of immigrant religion for scholarsand students, as well as religious leaders and policy makers.