Synopses & Reviews
In the Afro-Cuban Lukumi religious traditionandmdash;more commonly known in the United States as Santerandiacute;aandmdash;entrants into the priesthood undergo an extraordinary fifty-three-week initiation period. During this time, these novicesandmdash;called
iyawoandmdash;endure a host of prohibitions, including most notably wearing exclusively white clothing.and#160;Inand#160;
A Year in White, sociologist C. Lynn Carr, who underwent this initiation herself, opens a window on this remarkable year-long religious transformation.
and#160;
In her intimate investigation of the andldquo;year in white,andrdquo; Carr draws on fifty-two in-depth interviews with other participants, an online survey of nearly two hundred others, and almost a decade of her own ethnographic fieldwork, gathering stories that allow us to see how cultural newcomers and natives thought, felt, and acted with regard to their initiation. She documents how, during the iyawo year, the ritual slowly transforms the initiateandrsquo;s identity. For the first three months, for instance, the iyawo may not use a mirror, even to shave, and must eat all meals while seated on a mat on the floor using only a spoon and their own set of dishes. During the entire year, the iyawo loses their name and is simply addressed as andldquo;iyawoandrdquo; by family and friends.
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Carr also shows that this year-long religious ritualandmdash;which is carried out even as the iyawo goes about daily lifeandmdash;offers new insight into religion in general, suggesting that the sacred is not separable from the profane and indeed that religion shares an ongoing dynamic relationship with the realities of everyday life. Religious expression happens at home, on the streets, at work and school.
and#160;
Offering insight not only into Santerandiacute;a but also into religion more generally, A Year in White makes an important contribution to our understanding of complex, dynamic religious landscapes in multicultural, pluralist societies and how they inhabit our daily lives.
and#160;
Review
andquot;This interesting and accessible book picks up on an emergent phenomenaandmdash;the creation of hybrid third spaces of worship among second-generation Korean Americans. Kim's work is a significant contribution to the study of religion and the new second-generation.andquot;
Review
"The book offers a rich and sympathetic insight into the world of seco author of God's New Whiz Kids: Korean American Evangelicals on Campus
Review
andquot;Sharon Kim has written a clear, well-organized, and accessible book on an important emerging phenomenon among second generation Korean American churches.andquot;
Review
andquot;Well-written and informative, this book is an incredibly in-depth, sensitive look into the worlds of Filipino lives, families, and religious practices. Using multiple sources of data, Cherry puts Filipino religious lives in context, helping us get up-close views that bring social patterns to life.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherry's book captures the heartbeat of the Filipino immigrant community in America by its focus on how religion and family impact American civic life and the future of American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andquot;Using interviews and surveys, sociologist Cherry presents a thick description and analysis of the interplay of faith, family, and community life among the first generation of Filipino Americans in Houston, Texas. A significant contribution to immigration, ethnic/multicultural, Asian American, and religious studies. Highly recommended.andquot;
Review
andquot;A clear and honest examination of the Filipino Catholics in America. Cherry has provided a valuable contribution to the study of Asian Americans, migration, and religion.andquot;
Review
andquot;Stephen Cherry offers readers a close look at an immigrant group in the United Statesvthat has been significantly understudied relative to its size and importance. Cherry makes a strong argument for the significant impact of the Filipino-American community on American civic life and on
American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andquot;Insightful, beautifully written, and empirically sophisticated, this book will be cited by many others, as it establishes the core of what it means to turn to religious conversion, to become an Orisha and#39;priestand#39;andhellip; a joy to read.andquot;
Review
andquot;The book offers a rich and sympathetic insight into the world of seco
Review
andquot;Cherryandrsquo;s work is an important contribution to the literature on immigrant religion and religious communities. This work is suitable for multiple readerships from undergraduate studies and graduate seminars in religion, race or ethnicity, culture, and Asian American studies.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherry expands the possibilities for a truly public sociology, and thereby, offers a long awaited, unusually rich analysis of contemporary American Catholicism from Filipino epistemological perspectives.andquot;
Review
andldquo;Carr has executed a methodologically innovative study of religious identification and self-creation in American Lukumi with integrity, intimacy and insight.and#160;Its focus on the and#39;everyday religionand#39; of devotees is especially welcome.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Second-generation Korean Americans, demonstrating an unparalleled entrepreneurial fervor, are establishing new churches with a goal of shaping the future of American Christianity.
A Faith of Our Own investigates the development and growth of these houses of worship, a recent and rapidly increasing phenomenon in major cities throughout the United States.
Immigration historians have depicted the second-generation as a transitional generation--on the steady march toward the inevitable decline of ethnic identity and allegiance. Sharon Kim suggests an alternative path. By harnessing religion and innovatively creating hybrid religious institutions, second-generation Korean Americans are assertively defining and shaping their own ethnic and religious futures. Rather than assimilating into mainstream American evangelical churches or inheriting the churches of their immigrant parents, second-generation pastors are creating their own hybrid third space--new autonomous churches that are shaped by multiple frames of reference.
Including data gathered over ten years at twenty-two churches, A Faith of Our Own is the most comprehensive study of this topic that addresses generational, identity, political, racial, and empowerment issues.
Synopsis
Second-generation Korean Americans, demonstrating an unparalleled entrepreneurial fervor, are establishing new churches with a goal of shaping the future of American Christianity. A Faith of Our Own investigates the development and growth of these houses of worship, a recent and rapidly increasing phenomenon in major cities throughout the United States. Including data gathered over ten years at twenty-two churches, it is the most comprehensive study of this topic that addresses generational, identity, political, racial, and empowerment issues
Synopsis
This ground-breaking book draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. It illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family.
Synopsis
In Santerandiacute;a, entrants into the priesthood undergo an extraordinary fifty-three-week initiation period. Inand#160;
A Year in White, sociologist C. Lynn Carrandmdash;who underwent this initiation herselfandmdash;offers a wealth of insight into this remarkable year-long religious transformation. Carr draws on in-depth interviews, many online surveys, and nearly a decade of her own ethnographic fieldwork, shedding light not only on Santerandiacute;a, but on religion in general.
About the Author
SHARON KIM is assistant professor of sociology at California State University, Fullerton.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1. Faithfully Filipino and American
2. Catholic Culture and Filipino Families
3. Community of Communities
4. Communities in Conflict
5. Building Centers of Community
6. Caring for Community
7. Protecting Family and Life
8. Growing Presence and Potential Impacts
Methodological Appendix
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index