Migration and Religion in Romania: A Study Regarding the Influence of Migration Behaviour on Religion

Abstract

Through this article we try to capture another side of the migration, where the migratory behaviour contributes to obvious changes in the religious structure. Migration not only influences the accentuation of a religious diversity at a national, regional or local level, but it also creates a ”religious mosaic”, where, most often, conflicts appear, sign that humanity still has to work on its capacity of acceptance and celebration of differences. We can’t talk about migration impact on religious life without making a reference regarding the level to which it is materialized; spatially, we can say that are several levels: national, regional and local. The complexity of this social phenomenon provides us different perspectives of analysis and partial explanations concerning the present situation that Romania is facing. Under political, economic and cultural pressure, humans react by searching and finding solutions for a better living, as migration in this case. Even if it is often seen as an economic privilege, migration cause major changes whose cyclical effects are manifested in social, demographic and economic aspects. While socio-economic impact of migration is well documented, the demographic impact and implicit religious impact is less studied. Starting from the article title, it explains in a good measure the research direction of this paper which aims to facilitate the identification of disagreements on migration implications in religious sphere, situational awareness, a starting point for creating harmony, imperative actions in the era of globalization. To provide a visual image on the impact, we will also use the cartographic method.