Religion, ethnocentrism and islamophobia: the case of Dutch evangelicals

Abstract

This study considers religion as a driver for ethnocentrism and islamophobia, but it does so by focusing on evangelicals as a distinctive minority group of committed, orthodox Christians. Analysing survey data on more than 1,100 Dutch evangelicals, covering questions on religious orientations, beliefs and practices as well as various background characteristics, the most decisive religious determinants of ethnocentrism and islamophobia are identified. Results show that an extrinsic religious orientation and the beliefs in Biblical inerrancy and religious exclusivism are important religious drivers for ethnocentrism and islamophobia next to a right-wing political orientation and demographics like education, gender and age.