ABSTRACT
Chapter 8 examines religion and spirituality among different ethnic groups, for people who are LGBT and for people who live in rural areas. While Black and Hispanic American religious involvement is high, this is especially true for oldest age cohorts. Native American religions, customs, and traditions vary by tribe, but rooting religion in American Indian culture and practices is essential. Given the rejection of sexual minorities by many religious organizations, LGBT elders are less likely to maintain religious affiliation and participate in institutional religious activities but report higher levels of spirituality. Latino and Black LGB people are more religious than their White counterparts. Religion has a more central role in the belief system of people in rural communities than for their urban counterparts. This is true not only for ethnic minorities but for European Americans as well. We also examine Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist conceptions of aging.
