Intersections of Religion and Migration

"This book captures the emergence of an increasingly important interdisciplinary and multi-perspectival study of the role of religion in the migratory experience. The volume is a clarion call for the development of more sophisticated, humane, and attentive forms of migration theory, policy, and practice." (Anna Rowlands, Lecturer in Contemporary Catholic Studies and Deputy Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies, University of Durham, UK) "This volume presents a set of masterful essays blended into a coherent overview. The tone is that of an extended conversation that shows both a remarkable grasp of the dozens of major migrations going on and awareness that, for most migrants, a profound religious reflection is an important part of their trip." (Paul Younger, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University, Canada) "Analyzing migration as multi-layered and shaped by variables such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and xenophobia, contributors to this volume reveal how religious identities, practices, and understandings are inextricable from this mix. With case studies spanning the globe and religious traditions, we find here a critical corrective to our tendency to underestimate and oversimplify religion's role in our current era of global displacement." (Corinne G. Dempsey, Associate Professor and Rosemarie Beston Chair for International Studies, Nazareth College, USA) "Readers of this book, including secular policy makers, interested citizens, and religious leaders, will encounter fresh insights that will help them understand and respond to new transnational realities." (Raymond Brady Williams, LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities Emeritus, Wabash College, USA)

The contributors demonstrate that religion is an important factor in migration studies and that attention to the intersection between religion and migration augments and enriches our understandings of religion. This innovative volume introduces readers to a variety of disciplinary and methodological approaches used to examine the intersections of religion and migration. A range of leading figures in this field consider the roles of religion throughout various types of migration, including forced, voluntary, and economic. They discuss examples of migrations at all levels, from local to global, and critically examine case studies from various regional contexts across the globe. The book grapples with the linkages and feedback between religion and migration, exploring immigrant congregations, activism among and between religious groups, and innovations in religious thought in light of migration experiences, among other themes. The contributors demonstrate that religion is an important factor in migration studies and that attention to the intersection between religion and migration augments and enriches our understandings of religion. Ultimately, this volume provides a crucial survey of a burgeoning cross-disciplinary, interreligious, and global area of study.