@article{oai:tsukuba.repo.nii.ac.jp:00046377, author = {ERALIEV, Sherzod}, journal = {国際日本研究, Journal of International and Advanced Japanese Studies}, month = {Feb}, note = {This article analyses why a significant number of Central Asian migrants become more religious in Russia than they were at home. Although debate is emerging on the influence of migration on the religiosity of Central Asians in Russia, it is not yet clear in what circumstances migration ‘theologizes’. Here, we use the word ‘theologize’ to indicate how migration leads a migrant to become more religious. Insecurity and contexts of reception theories are used in answering this question. I argue that the insecurity theory that was tested in mostly Western countries to explain growing religiosity of immigrants should be looked upon more broadly when applied to other contexts. The very living conditions of a labour migrant, the environment in which he lives, and circumstances he faces every day in Russia incline and push him to seek solace and comfort in religion. It is suggested that the feelings of insecurity?not only economic (mostly in terms of finding a job), but also psychological and existential?are critical factors in such circumstances. Previous research on immigrant religiosity in the West has mostly focused on economic and, to a lesser degree, existential aspects of insecurity while explaining the religious behaviour of immigrants. However, while not ignoring the importance of feelings of economic security, I argue that in the Russian case, psychological and existential (physical) insecurities play a more apparent role in affecting the religious behaviour of many Central Asian labour migrants. Sources of insecurity include but are not limited to bad living conditions far away from close family members, the local population’s xenophobia, psychological and financial pressure from officials (police and immigration authorities), contrasts in the cultures of migrants’ own and host countries, and secluded lifestyle within their own groups. In this regard, by examining more deeply the migrants’ feelings of insecurity, specific aspects peculiar to the growing religiosity among Central Asian migrants in Russia are explored.}, pages = {137--150}, title = {
Growing Religiosity Among Central Asian Migrants in Russia : Why Does Migration 'Theologize'?}, volume = {10}, year = {2018} }