ethnicity and religion

• Over the past 70 years the UK has seen an increase in ethnic diversity which has had an impact on the diversity of religious practices in the UK
• An individual's ethnic group does not necessarily indicate membership of a particular religion
• South Asians were more likely to identify themselves by their religious affiliation than their nationality
• There are higher levels of religious attendance for non-white groups than white groups
• Religiosity amongst ethnic minority groups

  A form of cultural defense against hostility such as racism or religious intolerance
• Denominations of Christianity


  • Baptist churches
  • Seventh-day Adventism
• Religion for migrants


  • Provides a sense of the familiar in an unfamiliar place
  • Aids integration into UK society
• The building of mosques, temples and gurdwaras as a center of the migrant community and a place to congregate with others and maintain the norms and values that are consistent with their religious beliefs
• Religion provides a consistency with norms and values helping to maintain both cultural traditions and the individual's sense of identity
• Religion enables the socialization of the next generation of the family into religious norms and values
• Religion for ethnic groups

  • A key component of their identity
  • Enables individuals to maintain a sense of self
• Within Islam, family is seen as an extension of Islam and therefore there are higher levels of religious participation
• Data collected on religious belief is based upon individuals declaring their faith, and denials of faith are more commonplace amongst white groups
• Ethnicity alone cannot be seen as a sole fact of religious participation as religious beliefs are often influenced by other factors such as an individual's need to belong, their commitment to a community or their reactions to different forms of oppression
• The greater choice in religion in contemporary society means that there are less strict ties between a certain ethnicity and a particular religion