The Relation of Religious Identity and National Heritage among Young Muslims in Germany

Abstract

This chapter focuses on young Muslims with a Turkish origin who were born and raised in Germany. It explores how important religion is for young Muslims in their formative phase, and how the experience of being part of a minority influences the formation of their identity. The chapter then analyses two contrasting case studies of young female Muslims and show how these young women generate their identity in the triangle of their ancestral environment, their peers and the host culture. It particularly elucidates how these young female Muslims deal with and integrate religion and cultural heritage into their identity. Keywords:Germany; muslims; national heritage; religious identity