YOUNG MUSLIMS IN GERMANY Thursday, May 6, 2010

Research looks at role of religion in integration of the young generation

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan where the faithful fast from sunup to sundown is coming to a close with the holiday of Eid al-Fitr beginning at sunset on Saturday, September 19. Sociologist Christel Gärtner studied the role of religion in the integration process, and found young Muslims in Germany observant of their faith and eager participants in German life.

Gärtner’s research is part of the so-called excellence cluster for “Religion and Politics” at the University of Münster analyzing the role of religion in political activity. For her research, Gärtner interviewed young people throughout Germany from second and third generation immigrant families about the role of their faith. Germany’s Muslim community is estimated at nearly four million.

In individual and group interviews, she wanted to determine how the young generation from different backgrounds lived together, and if there were hindrances that affected their integration. She particularly wanted to understand the role of religion in this.

Although there were clear differences in terms of belief between young Muslims and non-Muslims, the values of the groups as measured in the research were found to be quite similar.

Gärtner found that many young people from Muslim families were adapting their personal situation to live out a new, and what they described as more reflective Islam. The young participants said they saw no contradiction between young Muslim women observing their faith and pursuing modern careers.

Gärtner also found that non-Muslim peers accepted the religious beliefs of their Muslim counterparts, even if they themselves were not religious. The research also ascertained that interactions of groups from different backgrounds occurred both at school and in outside activities, encouraging greater immigration overall.

Gärtner says that the results show how far integration among the young generation has proceeded. The project looked at the current young generation in all areas of Germany as well as those with a Muslim background.

According to an estimate prior to the German Islamic Conference, the majority of Germany’s Muslims come from a Turkish background, followed by southeast Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

From Young Germany