“So I closed my eyes and said God help me, just to be able to go on” : A qualitative study of changes in Chaldeans religiosity after migration to Sweden as well as their personal experiences of the migration process

This study aims to examine how Chaldean migrants perceive and interpret how their religiosity is shaped, reinterpreted and maintained in relation to their migration to Sweden, as well as how they personally experienced the migration process. The study addresses three main research questions: How do Chaldeans describe their experiences of migration? How do Chaldeans perceive and describe how their religiosity has been affected by migration to Sweden? What factors do Chaldeans believe have contributed to changes in their religiosity after their migration to Sweden? To address these aims, the study uses a qualitative research method. The empirical material consists of semi-structured interviews with six first generation Chaldean migrants. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis, through which four main themes emerged: The role religion plays in the country of origin, Migration as a turning point, Individualisation of faith and Religious practice after migration. The theoretical framework is mainly based on theories about individual secularisation and transnational theory with a focus on religious institutions. The results show that religion in the country of origin was often experienced as a natural and collective part of everyday life, closely connected to family and cultural identity. In contrast to this, after migration to Sweden, many of the participants describe a change where religiosity becomes more personal and individually defined. For some, participation in religious practice, such as church services, decreases while personal faith remains important. At the same time, for some of the participants, the Chaldean Catholic Church continues to be an important space for social community, cultural identity and a sense of belonging.