Narrative and Religion in the Superdiverse City

This Element shows that talk about religious superdiversity brings a focus on shared values and personal growth.

Stephen Pihlaja (Author)

9781009475983, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 May 2024

78 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 1 cm, 0.26 kg

This Element focuses on how narrative is used to construct religious identity in superdiverse contexts, considering specifically how people talk about their own religious identity, and the religious identity of others. Drawing on interviews with twenty-five participants, and numerous site visits throughout the city of Birmingham (UK), the analysis focuses on how self and other positioning is used to construct religious identity in talk about beliefs, actions, and behaviours in different contexts. Additionally, the analysis shows how conflict emerges and is resolved in spaces where people of different faiths and no faith interact, and how people talk about and understand community. Finally, a model for talking about faith in diverse contexts is presented to help people find common goals and act together towards shared interests.

1. Background
2. Methods
3. Self-identity and construction
4. Building community
5. Living superdiversity
Conclusion: Stories and understanding
References.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]