In an increasingly multireligious, multicultural world where inequities persist, research must capture complex religious experiences. An intersectional lens empowers researchers to understand how social categories and contexts intersect and contribute to the religious experiences of racial and religious minority emerging adults. Using a qualitative approach, this study contextualizes the religious experiences of Black Muslim emerging adults. Participants were limited to Black Muslims (i.e., descendants of enslaved Africans), raised, and identified as Muslim and currently reside in the U.S. A total of 31 participants completed surveys and semistructured focus groups. Demographic and developmental contextual data were collected through surveys. Focus groups explored the multilevel factors influencing religious experiences. The findings identified varying domains and themes that highlighted intersecting social categories and contexts for Black Muslim emerging adults. Three main domains contributing to religious experience were as follows: sociocultural factors, parents, and extended relatives. Social and structural factors contributing to their religious experiences were as follows: systemic racism, interpersonal racism, community, and congregational connectedness. Parental influence on religious experience highlighted the following important themes: parent-child relationship, religious socialization patterns, and methods, which were further explored. All participants noted being part of a religiously pluralistic extended family. Therefore, extended family influence on Black Muslim emerging adults was investigated. The findings highlight the importance of an intersectional approach, which include social categories and contexts when understanding the religious experiences of racial and religious minority emerging adults. Given the exploratory nature of this study, further research is warranted.
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