1. The religious patterns of young roma people in Hungary
„Challenge and/or Chance – the integration of Romani (Gypsy) People in Europe”
24-25th of March, 2017.
University of Debrecen, Hungary
Veronika Bocsi

2. Main points of the presentation
Introduction
Theoretical framework
Methodology
Results
Summary

3. Introduction
Several empirical findings are known on this topic – but they are rather qualitative findings and refer to local data.
The changes in the field of religiosity are significant – in the whole Hungarian society and in the roma communities as well.

4. The main features of religiosity in Hungary
Before the regime changed – the socialist system did not tolerate the religious behaviour or practices.
The system of denominational schools was reduced.
In local communities these religious patterns and practices were still surviving during this time.
Alternative ways: christening in other town etc.
Career in the communist party was not compatible with the religious practices and behaviour.
Background: the process of secularization. 20th century – the modernization of the country completed off.

5. After the regime changed…
Barriers disappeared which refers to the religious practices – but this change did not effect the rise of religiosity.
„New age” – the beginnig of this phenomenon started in the 80’, but the rise links to the 90’.
Dinamic progress of the free churces (Metodists, Adventists, Jehovah’s witnesses etc.)
Eastern religions (Buddhism, Hindusim etc)

6. The Hungarian society’s division according to denominations (Source: Hungarian census)
Cohorts!!!
Obligatories…

7. The patterns of the Youth… (Source: Hungarian Youth Research 2012 and 2016)
2016: Churchgoer and following the rules of their church – 6%. Religious in their own way: 43%, Non religious: 41%.
Religious beliefs: mixed patterns. Traditional dogmas and beliefs mix with the elements of „new age”. (Reincarnation, horoscopes etc.)
Conclusion: the normal research tools and questions are not applicable anymore – new approach and statistical tools are necessary.
But the denominations is one thing and religious self identification is another. And what about’s the youth?

8. Roma People in Hungary about 700-800 000 roma people live in Hungary
lower economic and educational level
overrepresented in distressed areas
segregated areas (whole settlements or districts)
unemployment rate: higher than non-roma people
But: traditions, family contacts are more significant and stronger and the religiosity is associated with this background.

9. Roma people and religiosity
Millenium – established denominations have started turn to roma people.
Free churches (adventist, metodists etc.) as well.
This activity can mobilize the local communities.
The question is wether the strong religious practices are still overwhelmig? Bartl (2014): the roma people’s patterns have started to assimilate into the normal population.
The rates of denominations according to the census in roma subsample:
Not belong to denomination in 2011: 22%
No answer: 11%
Roma people belonging to denominations:
73% Catholic, 18% Protestant, other Christian: 7%
Free churches – significant rise in Hungarian roma population

10. Main aim of this research
To analyse the young roma people’s religious patterns from the new aspect which grounded on the mixed religious beliefs.

11. Methodology
Database: Hungarian Youth Research (HYR). N=8000, representative for gender, age and settlement, between 15-29’
Roma subsample (N=625) and non-roma subsample (N=7325)
Used variables: the categories of the religiosity, denominations, religious dogmas (miracles, heaven, God, horoscope, reincarnation etc.). Sociocultural variables during the linear regression model.
Techniques: rates, factor analyis, variance analysis, linear regression

12. Empirical findings Religious Self-identification (Hungarian Youth Research, 2012, N=625 and 7375)
Cross tabulation, p<0,05, sig.: 0,000

13. The Church of the christening (Hungarian Youth Research, 2012, roma subsample, N=625)
The church which I am belonging to at the moment (HYR, 2012, Roma subsample, N=625)

14. Belief in religious dogmas (cross tabulation, p<0,05)
Roma subsample is…
overrepresented in the cell of „I believe in…”:
God, Heaven, Satan, hell, magic
overrepresented in the cell of „I believe in…” and „I am uncertain of…”
resurrection, horoscope, life after death, talismans, reincarnations, saints, Trinity, immaculate conception
overrepresented in the cell of „I do not believe in…” and ‘I am uncertain of…”:
telepathy
overrepresented in the cell of „I do not believe in…” and „I am believe in…”:
UFO

15. The patterns of the factors (maximum likelihood, Varimax rotation, saved information: 66,7%, HYR, 2012)
Traditional
Esoteric - mixed
resurrection
,819
,299
life after death
,638
,497
horoscope
,237
,677
God
,771
,233
talisman
,247
,741
reincarnation
,425
,673
Heaven
,865
,277
Satan
,761
,348
hell
,787
,326
saints
,859
,280
Trinity
,867
,256
immaculate conception
,746
,289
telepathy
,296
,722
magic
,301
,743
UFO
,135
,635

16. With ANOVA test (p<0,05):
The traditional factor refers to the roma subsample but in the case of esoteric – mixed factor any difference was not revealed.
Technical information according to the regression model:
Dichotom variables: gender (0=men, 1=women), religious education (0=typical, 1= non typical), ethnic identity (0= non roma, 1= roma), subjective economic capital (0= no favourable, 1= favourable). Own educational level, the education level of mother, the education level of father (0= no degree, 1= degree).
Categorial variables: type of settlement (reference: smaller cities), type of religiosiy (reference: traditional religiosity)

17. The linear regression model of the „Traditional factor” (HYR, 2012, roma subsample, N=625)
step
2. step
3. step
4. step
ethnic identity
(0=non roma, 1= roma)
0,90***
0,101***
0,102***
0,055**
gender
0,106***
0,057***
the capital of the county
-0,147**
-0,148**
-0,058***
village -
economic capital
0,051**
0,048**
own educational level
0,050**
the educational level of the mother
the educational level of the father
religious education
(0=non typical, 1= typical)
0,243***
uncertain
-0,217***
religious in their own way
-0,309***
non religious
-0,643*** R2
0,90
0,207
0,214
0,631

18. The linear regression model of the esoteric – mixed factor
The linear regression model of the esoteric – mixed factor. (HYR, 2012, roma subsample, N=625)
1. step
2. step
3. step
4. step
ethnic identity
(0=non roma, 1= roma) -
gender
0,127***
0,122***
the capital of the county
0,074***
0,086***
village
-0,053**
-0,054**
-0,057**
economic capital
own educational level
the educational level of the mother
the educational level of the father
religious education
(0=non typical, 1= typical)
uncertain
0,077***
religious in their own way
non religious
-0,095** R2
0,05
0,169
0,170
0,218

19. Summary
The „traditional religiosity” and the „religiosity in their own way” are more typical in the case of young roma people.
But these beliefs do not refer only to the traditional forms of religiosity.
About 50% of young roma people are uncertain or non religious.
We can detect the marks of the secularization and the elements of „new age” in the case of roma people as well (beside the traditional elements).
Future plans:
With the help of Hungarian Youth Research 2016 we will try to analyse the religious trends of the Roma subsample.
This database has not been available yet.

20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!