[Tlc] T-article of Thai Buddhists in America

[justinm at ucr.edu]

An article by Wendy Cadge in the current issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion uses data gathered from eigthy-seven Thai temples in the US to propose a new theoretical approach to the study of post-1965 immigrant communities in the US.  Cadge, a sociologist of religion, critiques the prevailing paradigm in the study of post-1965 immigrant religions in the US and offers useful suggestions for developing new theoretical approaches that can better account for the heterogeneity she finds in the field. In terms of Thai Buddhism in the US, among her most important findings is the high degree of variation she reports within the "organizational field" of Thai temples in America - esp in terms of ethnic exclusivity and multifunctionality. This is especially important given the tendency to label Thai temples monolithically as "ethnic" congregations.

"De Facto Congregationalism and the Religious Organizations of Post-1965 Immigrants to the United States: A Revised Approach" by Wendy Cadge, JAAR, June 2008; 76: 344-374.

Regards,
Todd Perreira
UC Santa Barbara 

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu