Exploring Refugees Religion Continuity and Change - Essay Example

A qualitative approach was used to investigate the perceptions and experiences of female Arab refugees. Semi structured interviews were conducted with refugees in the middle Atlantic area. Grounded theory was used to build useful theory about Arab Muslim refugees’ religion continuity.

Findings emphasize the importance of taking a holistic approach in understanding Arab Muslim refugees’ needs which can lead to successful integration into the American society. Islam is more than religion; it represents a strong emotional support that ties the family together and helps them to assimilate to the new culture, and passing their religious values to their children is one of their priorities. In addition, it appears important for the wellbeing of refugees that they maintain their religious rituals while encouraged to integrate to the new culture. Social ties play an important role on family’s wellbeing and emotional support represented on other refugee friends, relatives, and American friends.

In the modern world, one of the most challenging human experiences is being a refugee. The number of refugees is increasing dramatically because of the increase of violence, war, climate shift, and racial cleansing (UNHCR, 2012). Refugees are pushed to leave their country to find a new life. Being a refugee is not a choice: It is the only option to survive. Refugees leave their country as individuals or families. Although individuals have much better chances to cope with their new lives, families are the main factor in resilience and psychological well-being (Mafile'o & Kaise, 2009). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (NHCR) primary purpose is to protect the rights and well-being of refugees and to find long-lasting solutions that enable refugees to rebuild their lives in dignity and peace (UNHCR, 2012). Within the current economy, the United States has failed to satisfy the needs of many populations that need special attention, including veterans, those with developmental disabilities, and refugees. With the downturn of the economy, the funding of many programs to support these populations had to be cut. Therefore, searching for alternative ways to support these populations is necessary.