Preserving Ethnicity Through Religion in America : Korean Protestants and Indian Hindus Across Generations

2012 Honorable Mention Award, Sociology of Religion Section, presented by the American Sociological Association 2011 Honorable Mention for the American Sociological Association International Migration Section's Thomas and Znaniecki Best Book Preserving Ethnicity through Religion in America explores the factors that may lead to greater success in ethnic preservation. Pyong Gap Min compares Indian Americans and Korean Americans, two of the most significant ethnic groups in New York, and examines the different ways in which they preserve their ethnicity through their faith. Does someone feel more “Indian” because they practice Hinduism? Does membership in a Korean Protestant church aid in maintaining ties to Korean culture? Pushing beyond sociological research on religion and ethnicity which has tended to focus on whites or on a single immigrant group or on a single generation, Min also takes actual religious practice and theology seriously, rather than gauging religiosity based primarily on belonging to a congregation. Fascinating and provocative voices of informants from two generations combine with telephone survey data to help readers understand overall patterns of religious practices for each group under consideration. Preserving Ethnicity through Religion in America is remarkable in its scope, its theoretical significance, and its methodological sophistication. "Preserving Ethnicity through Religion in America explores the factors that may lead to greater success in ethnic preservation. Pyong Gap Min compares Indian Americans and Korean Americans, two of the most significant ethnic groups in New York, and examines the different ways in which they preserve their ethnicity through their faith. Does someone feel more 'Indian' because they practice Hinduism? Does membership in a Korean Protestant church aid in maintaining ties to Korean culture? Pushing beyond sociological research on religion and ethnicity which has tended to focus on whites or on a single immigrant group or on a single generation, Min also takes actual religious practice and theology seriously, rather than gauging religiosity based primarily on belonging to a congregation. Fascinating and provocative voices of informants from two generations combine with telephone survey data to help readers understand overall patterns of religious practices for each group under consideration. Preserving Ethnicity through Religion in America is remarkable in its scope, its theoretical significance, and its methodological sophistication"--Provided by publisher Preserving Ethnicity Through Religion In America Explores The Factors That May Lead To Greater Success In Ethnic Preservation. Pyong Gap Min Compares Indian Americans And Korean Americans, Two Of The Most Significant Ethnic Groups In New York, And Examines The Different Ways In Which They Preserve Their Ethnicity Through Their Faith. Theoretical Frameworks -- Religions In India And South Korea -- Korean And Indian Immigrants' Religious Affiliations And Participation In Religious Institutions -- Ethnographic Research On The Shin Kwang Korean Church -- Ethnographic Research On The Hindu Temple Society Of North America -- Participation In Religious Institutions, Family Rituals, And Identity -- Younger Generations' Preservation Of Ethnicity Through Participation In Religious Institutions -- Younger Generations' Preservation Of Ethnicity Through Domestic Religious Practices -- The Importance Of Religion For Younger Generations' Identity, Socialization, And Social Relations -- A Summary Of Major Findings And Their Theoretical Implications. Pyong Gap Min. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-258) And Index.

Does someone feel more “Indian” because they practice Hinduism? Does membership in a Korean Protestant church aid in maintaining ties to Korean culture? This book explores the factors that may lead to success in ethnic preservation. Pyong Gap Min compares Indian Americans and Korean Americans, two of the most significant ethnic groups in New York, and examines the different ways in which they preserve their ethnicity through their faith.

Pushing beyond sociological research on religion and ethnicity which has tended to focus on whites or on a single immigrant group or on a single generation, Min also takes actual religious practice and theology seriously, rather than gauging religiosity based primarily on belonging to a congregation. Fascinating and provocative voices of informants from two generations combine with telephone survey data to help readers to understand overall patterns of religious practices for each group under consideration. This book is remarkable in its scope, its theoretical significance, and its methodological sophistication.

Introduction Theoretical frameworks Religions in India and South Korea Immigrants' religious affiliations and participation in religious institutions : frequent intergroup comparison Ethnographic research on the Shin Kwang Church : congregational case study Ethnographic research on the Ganesh Temple : congregational case study Personal interviews : immigrants' participation in religious institutions, domestic religious practices, and religious identity Younger-generations : participation in religious institutions and ethnicity Younger-generations : preservation of ethnicity through domestic religious practices The importance of religion for younger-generations : identity, child socialization, and social boundary Conclusion. Explores the factors that may lead to greater success in ethnic preservation. This title compares Indian Americans and Korean Americans, two of the most significant ethnic groups in New York, and examines the different ways in which they preserve their ethnicity through their faith.