The effect of immigration on religious beliefs and practices: Romanian immigrants in Belgium, case study

The role of religion in shaping immigrant integration is highlighted by a growing body of research, emphasizing its potential to provide a social network and a system of meaning. Using data collected by in-depth interviews, we examine the impact of immigration on the religious beliefs and practices of legal Romanian immigrants in Belgium. Our research focuses on the migrants’ perspective on religion as a psychological and social support after migration. Data analysis indicates that the migration experience generates deep transformations in the migrants’ cultural identity concerning individual beliefs and religious practices, significantly diminishing those practices after migration. Besides the differences generated by socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, and economic status, these transformations are mainly caused by the characteristics of the host country’s sociocultural environment and the pragmatic interests guiding the migrants’ lives. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between migration, cultural identity, and religion, providing valuable insights for stakeholders responsible for migrant integration.