Abstract
Since the 1990s, Canada has absorbed on average 260,000 newcomers a year by digressing from what had been seen as its normal path (migrants from select Western European countries), in order to populate the country for economic growth. Migration invariably brings with it diversity and this demographic change has implications for various institutions in Canada – in particular, the religion in the country. While the sources of immigration to Canada has changed, the religious make-up of the country has changed very little with 53.3% of the population reporting a Christian religion (Statistics Canada, 2021). While Christianity continues to be the religion of the majority of the population in Canada, what is however not being taken into consideration is the cultural variation of Christianity that for instance Ethiopian immigrants bring with them and specifically the variety of transnational relationships and practices that are maintained among ethnic groups and how this informs religious denominations. This paper presents one aspect of a larger study that explored how cultural and structural experiences associated with living in hybridity (being of two cultures: Ethiopian and Canadian or Eritrean and Canadian) informed how second-generation Ethiopian and Eritrean youth defined and practiced well-being. Specifically, this paper discusses how the maintenance of transnational religious relationships by their parents has impacted and shaped how the second-generation view and participate in religious life. Findings from 40 qualitative interviews demonstrate an alternative approach to religiosity by the youth one that is buttressed by concepts such as multiculturalism, post-modernism and globalization.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
Ethiopian; Eritrean; Diaspora; Canada; Religion; Generational Conflict; Pentecostalism; Social Work
