Muslim Assimilation in the United States: A Study of Religion and Immigration (thesis)

Abstract

This project set out to better understand the extent to which Muslim assimilation, at the individual and organization levels, is occurring in the United States. The paper began with a theoretical discussion of types of religious organizations -- the church, sect, and denomination. In the U.S. context, the denomination (Niebuhr 1960) serves as the most viable model for any religion. These discussions along with Kuru's (2009) historical account provide us with an understanding of the cultural context within which Islam is to assimilate. The First Amendment and the development of passive secularism throughout U.S. history create a context in which essentially any religion may exist. However, there is still a particular model and structure that the religion must follow if it is to be accepted and is to sustain itself. These forms are outlined by Niebuhr (1960) with the denomination and White (1972) in his set of constituting norms. [From the Conclusion]