Religions of immigrants from India and Pakistan : new threads in the American tapestry /

Williams's study of the religions of immigrants from India and Pakistan in the US is an impressive, original, and much needed work. In this first comprehensive examination of the variety of religious groups and organizations formed by these immigrants, the author contends that the new hybrids of "Asian-Indian" and "Asian-Pakistani" have been added to the American ethnic and religious tapestry. In this study of the relationship between religion and ethnicity, Williams examines the adaptive strategies, and the dilemmas of identity, assimilation, and generational change among the following religious communities: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism. He also includes detailed descriptions of Swaminarayan Hinduism and Nizari Ismaili Muslims, as well as profiles of local Asian-Indian and Pakistani groups in Chicago and Houston. Williams provides extensive demographic and socioeconomic data on these migrants. Some of the most interesting parts of the book are his descriptions of the interactions between these immigrants and the American converts to their religions--e.g., the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna), Sikh Dharma (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization), and African-American Muslims. The book contains extensive references and a helpful glossary of religious terms and organizations. Recommended for specialists and graduate students interested in religion and ethnicity, but its lucid summaries of these various religions also make the book accessible to advanced undergraduates. L. H. Mamiya Vassar College