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8.9: Asian American Religions- Diversity, Adaptation, and the “Second-Generation”

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    325172
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    The category “Asian American” encompasses a staggering religious diversity that mirrors its ethnic heterogeneity. This may include such variation as Buddhists from Vietnam, Catholics from the Philippines, Hindus from India, Muslims from Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Korean Presbyterians, among many others.

    For many Asian American groups, religious institutions are paramount for preserving ethnic identity. As Warner and Wittner (1998) note in their study of immigrant congregations, the temple, mosque, or church becomes a “de facto community center.” It is where language schools are held, cultural festivals are organized, and social networks are forged. A Sikh Gurdwara, for instance, is not only a place of prayer but also a site for sharing a langar (communal meal) and sustaining Punjabi culture in a new land.


    8.9: Asian American Religions- Diversity, Adaptation, and the “Second-Generation” is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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