Young People and the Diversity of (Non)religious Identities in International Perspective: Introduction

Abstract

Youth and (non)religion is an area of academic interest that has been gaining increasing attention, especially as it pertains to youthful expressions of (non)religion and identities. The present introduction sketches the contours of this field of study in order to situate the contribution which this collection makes to this field. This volume builds bridges between geographies and methodologies by bringing together current research on young people, (non)religion, and diversity, documenting the forms young people’s stances may take and the social or spatial contexts in which these stances may be formed. Social contexts include the family, school, and faith communities; spatial contexts include (sub)urban and rural geographies and places of worship and pilgrimage. The chapters are organised around three themes, which emerged from the contents of the chapters themselves: Society and Institutions; Identity and Experiences; Gender and Sexuality. However, the chapters themselves overlap and intersect across these themes as the boundaries of identity definitions, narratives, and conflicts are studied and expressed across multiple national contexts. The authors contributing to this volume represent different academic disciplines, thus promote constructive dialogue between them and offer new research insights arising from the range of studies focusing on young people and (non)religious identities.