Sacred Crossings: Theocratic Identity Formation and Cultural Adaptation Among International Students

This paper explores the intersection of religious belief and cultural adaptation among international students, with a focus on theocratic identity negotiation. As globalization intensifies educational mobility, students often find themselves navigating unfamiliar sociocultural terrains that challenge core aspects of their identity—including faith. Drawing upon Berry’s acculturation framework, Pargament’s theory of religious coping, and Ting-Toomey’s identity negotiation theory, this study synthesizes qualitative and quantitative research to examine how international students from diverse religious traditions reconcile spiritual commitments with the normative expectations of host cultures. The evaluation reveals that religion serves both to stabilize psychosocial practices and creates the possibility for social conflict between different groups. The paper concludes with an argument that colleges and universities must establish complete approaches that validate religious backgrounds while supporting multicultural activities.