Third Culture Kids and Intergenerational Challenges in Migrant Communities: Korean Christians and Tamil Hindus in Germany

After several decades of coexistence, the research fields migration studies and the sociology of religion have built a strong theoretical and empirical exchange. The impetuous was a sociological conceptualization of migration as a decisive factor of religious dynamics in modern societies. This idea, in turn, triggered investigations of religious dynamics within migrant communities as they transmit religious knowledge to second generations and their way of adapting religion (doing religious culture). We propose, that intergenerational dynamics in migrant religions are reflected in areas of tensions between and among generations.

The paper presents the results of two research projects on intergenerational dynamics in Asian migrant communities in Germany: Korean Christians and Tamil Hindus. The parental generations of both communities were highly engaged with re-establishing a religious life in a foreign land. They created a "home away from home", not least to transmit religious knowledge to their children in an authentic setting, linked to their country of origin. However, the second generation, who will inevitably take over the community, was raised in two cultures. Do these youngsters still relate to their parents’ beliefs and practices? Which kind of intergenerational tensions challenge the transmission and reproduction of religious identities and thus institutionalized religion? We will discuss such questions in the paper. Special attention will be given to three areas of tension that affect religious continuities and discontinuities in the Korean and Tamil milieu: (1) religious practices now considered "obsolete," (2) differing ideas of religion and gender and (3) critique of religious organizations.

In accordance with the topic of this panel, the main focus of our comparative analysis between second generation Korean Christians and Tamil Hindus will be drawn to dynamics, which emerge during the transition to adulthood phase.