Ethnicity and Religion Sociology

The UK is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Christians represent the biggest religious group, while Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs are also significant in numbers.

Most Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs are from ethnic minority groups, while many Christians are Afro-Caribbean. British Muslims are often of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, while Sikhs and Hindus are usually of Indian heritage.

There have been many immigrants to the UK from Ireland and Eastern Europe, Poland for example. They are predominantly Roman Catholics and participate in religious activities in high numbers.

Examples of ethnic minority religions in the UK

In the UK, the following religions are ethnic minority religions:

• Islam
• Hinduism
• Sikhism
• Judaism
• Buddhism

These represent large ethnic minority religions

Ethnic minorities and religion

Tariq Modood et al. (1997) found that the rates of religious participation are higher than average among ethnic minority communities in the UK. While less than one-third of Christians said they practised religion regularly, 80 percent of Muslims and around two-thirds of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jews said religion is an important part of their everyday lives.

O’Beirne (2004) found that Muslims, Hindus, and Black Christians determine religion to be a significant factor in their identity. Muslims regard religion as being equally important in their identity formation as their family, while African-Caribbeans and Black Africans on average cite religion as the third-most significant facet of their identity. In contrast, white Christians rarely attribute any importance to their religion in their identity.

Statistics show that Christianity, the Church of England in particular, is a predominantly white religion. Black Christians are more likely to be active churchgoers than White Christians, and they comprise the majority of Pentecostal church membership. Roman Catholics are often from White Irish or Eastern European backgrounds.

Relationship between religion and ethnicity

Sociologists argue that there are four main reasons for the higher level of religious involvement among minority ethnic groups. We will look at the relationship and the difference of these explanations.

Cultural defence theory

Steve Bruce (2002) claimed that religion can be a source of emotional support for those who live in an uncertain, often hostile, new cultural environment.

Bird (1999) held that individuals of a cultural minority can find a community and a sense of home through religion. These religious communities provide space for the preservation of the minority culture and language in an oppressive, sometimes racist atmosphere.

Most ethnic minority migrants in Britain came from rather traditional, religious societies; religion has helped these migrants cope with the practical and emotional difficulties of adjusting to a new culture. Religious institutions provide a sense of community and a common cause for all their followers.

According to cultural transition theory, once a community has settled into a new environment, their religiosity gradually decreases. Third and fourth generation immigrants are more integrated and therefore less likely to be as religious as their parents and grandparents.

Weberianism

Max Weber drew a connection between religiosity, ethnicity, and poverty (1920). He claimed that ethnic minorities usually experience higher levels of social and economic deprivation, and living in poverty eventually turns them towards religion. This is because religious faith can provide guidance and support in difficult circumstances.

Neo-Marxism