Roma or Believer? Negotiating Identity in Charismatic Movements between Antigypsyism and Romipen
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | This conference paper synthesizes and investigates the dynamics of identity negotiation and social integration within charismatic movements, with a specific focus on the Roma community. By examining the interplay between external and internal factors, this study sheds light on the emergence of charismatic faith and its impact on religious, cultural, and group identity. The conference paper is a literature review of various fields and a chapter from the author’s Master’s thesis. Internally, this study explores the active agency of the Roma in adopting charismatic beliefs and reconstructing authority structures (Fosztó, 2013). It emphasizes the appeal of charismatic Christianity and its challenge to ecclesiastical authority structures, offering a means to deconstruct the roots of Romani exclusion. The roles of religious leaders and their assistants in facilitating hierarchically graded participation are also examined (Ripka, 2015; Thurfjell & Marsh, 2014). The paper also highlights the notion of the transition to faith as a means of survival and empowerment among the Roma, aligning with society's accepted form of religious expression and embodying "slow life" strategies that engender trust (c. Moon et al., 2018). It explores the transformative effect of Pentecostalism on self-perception, overcoming past difficulties, and addressing issues related to social exclusion (Cantón-DElGaDo, 2017; Roman, 2021). At the same time, it explores the concerns about losing the cultural identity – Romipen – upon accepting new faith (Hancock, 2010; Zăloagă, 2022) as well as the synthesis of Romipen and Pentecostalism in various forms, such as music and integration (Jurková, 2005; Pavelčíková, 2013; Podolinská & Hrustič, 2010). Overall, this paper contributes to the understanding of the intricate dynamics of identity negotiation, social integration, and the formation of religious and cultural identities within charismatic movements, particularly among the Roma communities. I also offers a drop to explanations for the emergence of charismatic movements among Roma communities across the world. |
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