Abstract

This research focuses on the effects of the context of receptivity on the religiosity among Muslim immigrants in Europe. This paper fits within research concerning the destination effects. However, little attention has been directed towards the context of receptivity and its effects on religiosity, as part of the integration process. In literature, both attitudinal-based and institutional-based approaches are used, but they are never tested simultaneously. In this research I argue that combining both approaches offers a better understanding of the effects the context of receptivity have on immigrant religiosity. It is expected that negative (closed) contexts of receptivity will lead to higher levels of religiosity among Muslim immigrants in Europe. Perceived discrimination is used to measure to what extent Muslim immigrants experience the possible negative effects of the context of receptivity. Social integration theory offers us a theoretical framework to account for intergenerational differences in religiosity. Two aspects of religiosity are considered: (1) subjective religiosity and (2) praying. All 7 waves (2002-2014) of the European Social Survey (ESS) were used in a 3-level cross-classified multilevel model, enabling us to measure simultaneously cross-sectional and longitudinal trends. The three main conclusions are (1) negative contexts of receptivity result in greater subjective religiosity among Muslim immigrants, (2) immigrants living in a negative context of receptivity and simultaneously perceive discrimination have a stronger subjective religiosity than immigrants who do not perceive discrimination and (3) the context of receptivity does not change significantly over time.

How to Cite:

Vandelannote, I., (2018) “Van God los?: religiositeit bij moslimimmigranten in Europa en de invloed van de ontvankelijkheidscontext, discriminatie en generatie”, Sociologos 39(4), 376–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86990