This paper is based on my dissertation, which has been cross-disciplinary, involving psychology of religion, ritual studies, and acculturation studies, as well as a sequential mixed-model, including a quantitative approach followed by a qualitative one. The study concerned three generations Suroye, the primary focus being on the youth generation.
The quantitative results show that religious practices decrease among the adults and youth, while kinship affiliation is very strong among all three generations. Swedish affiliation, though from a low level, increases among the adults and youth. The qualitative results show that religious rituals and symbols play a central role in Suroyo culture. However, in early youth the participation in religious rituals decreases, mainly due to other interests and to the political schism among the Suroye. Instead they search for an individual form of religiosity. The issue of identification is among the youth a disputed process, linked to issues of power. They use several designations to identify themselves; i.e., Aramean, Assyrian, Suroyo, Syrian, and Swedish, either separately or combined. Within the process of acculturation, the youth strategically use different identification patterns with the purpose to differentiate themselves from others and to negotiate their identity.