What is th elink between race and religion?

Question

I've read (on Wikipedia) that Asians are least likely to be religious while African-Americans are most likely...Why would this be true?

"th elink" = the link

Women are more likely than men to describe their outlook as "religious." Older Americans are more likely than younger to describe their outlook as "religious." Black Americans are least likely to describe themselves as secular, Asian Americans are most likely to do so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States

Answer 1

Descendancy and geographical location. Asia is very modern and scientifically oriented, with religions that are accepting and tolerant, leading Asians to be less affected by religion.

As for American black people, I think faith may have been a big deal to them throughout their past, possibly because of the struggles that they have been through.

Answer 2

Do you mean Asian Americans or Asians in general? I don't know that there is a direct link between race and religion However it would seem plausible because geography in general informs culture i.e. people of the same culture generally live in the same geographical area.

Religion is important for many African-Americans because the Church was the centre of African-American life before and after the abolition of slavery. Think about the civil rights movement: it was started organised Southern Christian Groups and not by secular organisations. Remember the KKK always targeted black churches because they knew that the churches were the nexus of the community.

About Asian Americans: it could be because the dominant "religion" in Asia is Buddhism, which tends to be more tolerant that say Western Evangelical Christianity.

Answer 3

I have a hard time with that one. I wonder who wikipedia's sources are for that one.

Not knowing too much about Asia, but having been to Korea, when I visited in the late 80's, there was a higher percentage of Christians in Korea than any country in the world (me thinks that's what me was told). Tao, Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as Jainism and umpteen other religions tend to make me question the answer you found on Wikipedia.

Look at the Hispanic population in the US - I have to guess that +90% of my Hispanic buddies are Christian's.

I don't buy it to be honest.

Answer 4

where?

Anyway, if religious means only to Christianity, the asian part might be true, mainly due to the fact many asian have other religions, hence chrisitianity is somewhere bottom on the line.

Partially, from young, asian are trained to respect the elders, use your wisdom to decipher truth from false. Christianity somehow preach the opposite, put god above all things and believe (faith?) ......

Answer 5

I think jussayngul has a good point. African Americans as a whole have been the most "Spirit filled" group of people I have ever met. I was thinking about this just yesterday.

Answer 6

That's bullinski!

Everyone knows that African Americans have more children out of wedlock than the Hispanics.


PLUS!
The asians will drown their daughters at birth.

Answer 7

There is only the human race and some of us have faith and some don't.

May God Bless you.

Answer 8

Not sure if there is one. There is one God, choose him or deny him every race has that opportunity.

Answer 9

culture and custom impact ones instinctual desires and religious proclivities.

Answer 10

Not sure. But it is interesting.