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Asian American Heritage

The Religious Landscape of Asian Americans

wooden carving of the goddess guanyin seatedThe increasing number of Asian Americans in the population of the United States has had an impact on the overall landscape of religious belief in the country.  "In the process, [of population increase], they have been largely responsible for the growth of non-Abrahamic faiths in the United States, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism. Counted together, Buddhists and Hindus today account for about the same share of the U.S. public as Jews (roughly 2%). At the same time, most Asian Americans belong to the country’s two largest religious groups: Christians and people who say they have no particular religious affiliation."

Pew Research Center, "Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths"

Guanyin, anon., ca. 1100 - ca. 1200 Rijksmuseum. Used by permission.

 

korean american church grey oblong shape
Korean Presbyterian Church. Photo by Michal Klajban CC BY SA 4.0