Religious Identity in Iranian Society: A Systematic Review of Previous Studies (2001-2013)

Introduction Religious identity is a prominent element of social cohesion. Religious identity involves a level of social identity that corresponds with "we" or religious community, and represents a sense of belonging and commitment to the religion and religious community. Religion essentially provides cognitive, ideological, sociological and spiritual resource for identity (Furrow et al 2004). Accordingly, religion locates mainly on the center of individual and group identity (Seul 1999). Religious communities and systems of meaning, are the resources for sense of interest (belonging to another) and approval (as a basis of self-esteem), and in fact, encourage individual excellence and actuality. Religious groups are also considered an important factor in social relations and are responsible for vitality, happiness and general enthusiasm of their followers (Hajiani 2000). Certainly, religious identity is a certain kind of identity formation. It is defined by a sense of group membership to religion and its importance regard to the self-concept. Religious identity is not necessarily equated with religiousness and religiosity . Although these concepts have some overlaps, religiousness and religiosity point to the significance and value of belonging to religious groups and participating in religious events, but religious identity particularly indicates membership in a religious group without participation in religious activities (Arweck and Nesbitt 2010). Also, although religion is faith-based institution and religiosity is practice to its rituals, but religious identity refers to how people understand themselves as religious persons, who accept spiritual and religious values and beliefs within faith community. Therefore, religious identity is a collective identity, which includes membership in religious groups, acceptance of belief system, commitment to religious groups and values, and practices ally with religion. Although there is substantial literature on identity, evidence suggests that the role of religion in shaping individuals' and group's identity is widely ignored. However, a growing number of studies have begun to take into consideration the key role of religion (Arweck & Nesbitt 2010, King and Boyatzis 2004, Peek 2005). This article has attempted to review systematically previous research and conceptualizations on the religious identity based on national studies and surveys and academic dissertations. Materials and Methods As mentioned, the purpose of this study was to review the results of some influential researches in the field of religious identity. To get this purpose, one of the best known methods for reviewing previous studies, a systematic review, was applied. Systematic review deals with establishing and synthesizing of researches and evidences with focus on a specific question. This occurs through the organized, transparent, formal, clear and flexible procedures and processes. A systematic review of research is not limited to review the history and this overview and review can be used in different levels, fields and goals. During the first phase of the study, terms of "religious identity", "Islamic identity", "Iranian identity" and "religious identity" was searched at libraries and research centers and in databases such as Center for Scientific Information Database (SID), a database of Iranian journals and magazines (Magiran), Noor specialized journals database, and Science and Information Technology Institute (IrnaDoc). After reviewing the gathered documents and specifying its relationship with the object and purpose of the study, a total of 47 documents were selected. Documents based on the five major parameter were summarized and reviewed: 1-general information, 2-goals and research questions, 3-research methodology, 4-variables, 5-findings   Discussion of Results and Conclusion Findings show that in the highest percentage (38.2%) of researches, religious identity has been studied as the dependent variable. By contrast, in less than 15 % of the researches, religious identity has been examined as independent variable. Only 29.7 % of studies were descriptive and only religious profile and dimensions have been studied. About 10.6 % of researches were descriptive and have tried to examine relationship between religious identity with other aspects such as national identity and ethnic identity. Finally, in 6.3 % of studies content of various documents such as textbooks have been analyzed. Results showed that among respondents, attitudinal and behavioral aspects of religious identity did not quite consistent with each other. Although a significant part of respondents, considered themselves as religious, but did not adhere as much to the religious practices and rituals. In general, women had a stronger religious identity. In most researches, religious identity had an inverse relationship between levels of education. Also there was positive correlation among level of age and religiosity. Generally, religious identity in these studies was assessed positively. Studies showed that there was coexistent relationship between religious identity and rival identities (national identity and ethnic identity). But there were no relationship between religious identity and modern and global identities. Religious identity was the first and most important identity that people know of and define themselves with. Examining the strength of national, religious, global and ethnic identities showed that religious identity is in the first place and national, ethnic and global identities came next. Detailed analysis demonstrated that among independent variables, new media (the Internet, satellite and mobile) had the highest effect on religious identity and globalization was next. Attitude toward reference groups, mental health, television programs, family, cultural capital, social capital, symbolic capital, were among independent variables that had a high frequency. About 10 percent of studies examined religious identity as independent variable. In these researches, effect of variables such as mental health and optimism, social identity, national identity, happiness, and social and political participation on religious identity was investigated. Finally, the results showed that reductionism (reducing the sense of religiosity to religious identity), conceptual distortion (dispersion and a break in the conceptual and operational definitions of the indicators of religious identity and the lack of coverage of all dimensions) and lack of a coherent theoretical and methodological basis (using small tools, lack of discipline and consistency in the choice of theories and theoretical framework) were the main weaknesses of measures of religious identity