On the Role of Religion in the Decision to Migrate

Abstract

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Migrants, Families, and Religion: An Intriguing Research Agenda. Book’s Content and Introduction

“…On the one hand, the influxes of asylum seekers solicit (or would solicit) European societies to become aware of the tremendous religious-based violations and persecutions which characterize the current global scenario and turn into a root-cause of contemporary migrations [26]. On the other hand, since they are perceived as more and more unpredictable in their dimensions and internal composition, new arrivals force Europe to come to terms with the full and long-standing legacy of its relationship with immigration and with the "diversity" -including the religious one-that immigration brings with it [27].…”

“…Even the life stories of migrants escaped from their countries for reasons linked to their religious belonging [36] testify to the spread of the phenomena of "spiritual nomadism" and syncretism are. Furthermore, these phenomena are variously intertwined with individual and family migration strategies, well beyond what suggested by the official data on displacements for religious motives [26]. In many ways, these are phenomena that can also be traced in the scenario of European societies, characterized by the advent of a "religious market" that overlaps with long-term institutional affiliations [5].…”