Religion and Nation

Kathryn Spellman received her MSc. and Ph.D. in Politics and Sociology at Birkbeck College, University of London, where she is currently an Honorary Research Fellow. She is a lecturer of sociology at Huron International University in London and Syracuse University (London Campus). Kathryn is also a Visiting Research Fellow in the Centre of Migration Studies Department at the University of Sussex.

• Preface AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Religious Identity in the Process of MigrationChapter 1. The Iranian Revolution and the Subsequent Waves of EmigrationA Brief Look at the Iranian RevolutionThe Islamic Republic and the Nationalisation of IslamThe Iranian DiasporaPolitical Opposition GroupsThe On-going Process of SettlementChapter 2. Iranians in BritainDemographic InformationIranians in London during the 1980sIranians in London during the 1990sThe Media EnvironmentThe Iranian New YearKhatami’s PresidencyConclusionsChapter 3. Sofreh: a Shia Muslim Religious Ritual for Iranian WomenEarly ShiismSofreh Gatherings in IranSofreh Gatherings in LondonSocio-religious Networks in LondonGender and DiscourseConclusionsChapter 4. Iranian Sufi Orders in LondonSufism in IranSufism and the Islamic RepublicSufism in the WestThe Nimatullahi OrderThe Nimatullahi Khâneqâh in LondonThe Oveyssi Spiritual TraditionMaktab Tariqat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi [Islamic School of Sufism]The Shahmaghsoudi Oveyssi Order in LondonThe Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi Sufi Order and New Religious MovementsConclusionsChapter 5. The Iranian Christian Fellowship and Elam MinistriesThe Pentecostal MovementProtestant Christianity in IranThe Iranian Diaspora and PentecostalismElam Ministries and Ex-MuslimsTraining to Become Christian PastorsThe CongregationBaptisms and Church MembersIranian Women as Born-Again Christians – Preserving MoralsExpectations of Women Outside of the ChurchConclusionsChapter 6. Conclusions and FindingsThe Iranian RevolutionThe Settlement ProcessKhatami and the Programme of Reforms?BibliographyIndex

“Spellman's Religion and Nation does bring to light a vibrant community that, due to its small size and peaceful demeanor, often goes unmentioned when discussions of British immigrant populations arise. Her detailed accounts of the religious practices of Iranians in London provide an overview of an immigrant community trying to adapt and reconcile the former identities and practices of its members to their new home. Spellman's is a study that has demystified the religious lives of British Iranians, placing religious change into a transnational context.” • H-Net Reviews“Given the lack of information about this population in the Westrn world, the focused materials presented in this book help build a better information base on the diverse practices and beliefs of Iranian outside their homeland.” • Choice“[This] first full-length study of the Iranian Muslim diaspora in Britain… enhances our empirical and theoretical understanding.” • The Muslim World Book Review