Migration and Lived Religion: Practical Theological Challenges

Abstract

The value of studying lived religion, especially in relation to migration, is explained in this article. A theology of migration can focus on human dignity, diaconal care, justice, and motivations for Christians to care about migration. Or it can start with theological and Christological reflection, for instance, about how Christ is met in every migrant. But it can also include the study of the lived religion of migrants, their way of expressing their spirituality or experiencing church. Studying lived religion raises many questions for theology and especially for pastoral practices. These questions are discussed to stimulate more research into the lived religion of migrants themselves as a challenge for theology, without focusing only on how it functions as a coping factor.