Religion and Adaptation of Immigrants: The Case of Revival Meetings in Korean-American Churches

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate various aspects of revival meetings in Korean American churches. More specifically, this study examines the rituals, functions, and symbolism involved in the revival meetings. The data analyzed in this study were obtained from a series of participant observations. Revival meetings are organized by Korean American churches for the spiritual renewal and awakening of their members as well as for the promotion and maintenance of traditional Korean Protestantism. Findings suggest a dynamic feedback effect between the roles of Korean American churches, the social needs of Korean immigrants and their expectations from the church. The implications of the exclusive intra-ethnic group activities of immigrant churches, such as revival meetings, are discussed in the context of the adaptation of immigrant groups to American community life. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate various aspects of revival meetings in Korean American churches. More specifically, this study presents an historical overview of revivalism in Korean Protestant traditions, followed by participant observation of revival rituals, and a set of content analyses based upon information obtained from newspaper advertisements and church bulletins of revival meetings held in Korean American churches. I address the sociological implications of the dynamic interplay between the religious orientations of immigrants and their churches for the processes of adaptation to community life in America. Additionally, I formulate inferences about the possible impacts of revival meetings on the religious and community lives of members of Korean immigrant churches. BACKGROUND Sociological inquiries into the religious activities of ethnic immigrant groups are embedded within the theoretical perspectives of the sociology of religion, and the sociology of race and ethnicity in American society. An economic approach is among the sociological theories of religion that have been used in the analysis of religious behavior. In particular, Berger’s choice theoretic model (1969) has attracted a substantial amount of attention. Berger argues that the pluralistic nature of religious activities resembles market situations in many important respects, with religious institutions