The Case for Secular Assimilation? The Latino Experience in Richmond, Virginia

Abstract

Studies of 20th‐century ethnic immigrant groups to the United States profile religion as a key factor in their assimilation into U.S. culture. Religious institutions provided immigrants and families with a safe haven where they could hold on to their ethnic identity, even as they and their children were mainstreamed into the larger culture. Changes in immigration law since 1965 have complicated somewhat the relationship between religion and assimilation. The variety of religious forms now present in the United States and the diversity of immigrants create new options as they seek to adapt to U.S. life. We look at the absence of religion as one of those options. The nonreligious paths chosen by some Latinos in Richmond, Virginia have implications for the way they become part of the community, especially in comparison to those who remain members of their religion of origin or who convert to U.S. faiths.

Immigrants, Immigration, and Sociology: Reflecting on the State of the Discipline

“…Therefore, the study of religion has resurfaced with vigor in the study of immigration. The variety of religious forms now present in the United States and the diversity of options as immigrants seek to adapt to their new lives on U.S. soil (Cavalcanti and Schleef 2005) has presented new challenges and opportunities for scholars in this area. The resurgence in immigration scholars' interest in religion is opening the door to a rich conversation in the sociology of religion as the work on immigration and religion pushes conventional domestic boundaries to engage questions and issues relevant beyond the U.S. context.…”

Religion and Attitudes Toward Same‐Sex Marriage Among U.S. Latinos*

“…Finally, in the general population, secularists (i.e., persons with no religious preference at all) are the most supportive of SSM (Olson, Cadge, and Harrison, 2006). Although this segment of the Latino population is quite limited-smaller than in the overall U.S. population (Cavalcanti and Schleef, 2005)-they tend to be more supportive of abortion rights than most other Hispanics (Ellison, Echevarría, and Smith, 2005). We anticipate a similar pattern with respect to SSM.…”

Latino Religious Affiliation and Ethnic Identity

“…Much of the research that explores the intersection of religion and ethnicity, especially on earlier immigrant waves, focuses on single case studies or adopts an interethnic lens (e.g., Herberg ; Min ; Yang ). Studies employing an intra ethnic lens on religious cleavages and their relationship to ethnic dynamics are sparser, though perhaps increasing (Cavalcanti and Schleef ; Form ; Greeley ; Menjívar ; Yang and Ebaugh ). This evolving research design may reflect the flourishing U.S. religious marketplace with its diversity of religious affiliations, ethnicities, and religious switching.…”