The Social Functions and Dysfunctions of Brazilian Immigrant Congregations in terra incognita
Ethnic congregations are often considered safe havens for immigrants. This is supported by a large body of literature showing that many religious congregations in diasporic contexts help immigrants maintain their ethnic group identity and cohesion, build social capital, and adapt more smoothly to li...
| Auteurs: | ; |
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| Type de support: | Électronique Article |
| Langue: | Anglais |
| Vérifier la disponibilité: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | En cours de chargement...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Publié: |
Springer
[2018]
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| Dans: |
Review of religious research
Année: 2018, Volume: 60, Numéro: 3, Pages: 367-388 |
| Sujets / Chaînes de mots-clés standardisés: | B
Texas
/ Brésiliens
/ Immigré
/ Mouvement évangélique
/ Paroisse
/ Fonction sociale
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| RelBib Classification: | CD Christianisme et culture CH Christianisme et société KBQ Amérique du Nord KBR Amérique Latine KDG Église libre RB Ministère ecclésiastique |
| Sujets non-standardisés: | B
Social Networks
B Brazil B Immigration B Cultural refuge B Congregation B Adaptation |
| Accès en ligne: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Résumé: | Ethnic congregations are often considered safe havens for immigrants. This is supported by a large body of literature showing that many religious congregations in diasporic contexts help immigrants maintain their ethnic group identity and cohesion, build social capital, and adapt more smoothly to life in an unfamiliar society. The role of ethnic congregations in the lives of immigrants is, however, complex and multifaceted, and some recent research suggests that, in some ways, these congregations may inhibit their adaptation to the larger society and arouse tensions among the very immigrant communities they intend to help. In light of these varying observations, we seek to explore the functionsand potential dysfunctionsthat ethnic congregations have among Brazilians who have immigrated to central Texas. Using data drawn in 2013 from participant observation and 16 in-depth interviews conducted in two Brazilian evangelical congregations, we find that respondents perceive that their congregations strengthen their feelings of attachment to Brazilian culture and language and foster the development of social capital within to the Brazilian immigrant community. At the same time, however, some respondents acknowledge that church members can become overly dependent on their congregations and isolated from the larger society, leaving them susceptible to potential exploitation at the hands of more established co-ethnics within the congregation. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contient: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/s13644-018-0333-x |