Relationship between National Identity and Religious Identity among Iranian Ethnics

This study is descriptive and examines the relationship between national identity and religious identity among different ethnic groups in Iran. Main conceptual framework was symbolic interaction perspective and Mead theory, theories of Cooly, Bloomer, Berger and Lukeman. Research method was survey and data collection technique was a questionnaire. In this study, using multi-stage cluster sampling, we interviewed with 1802 people (18-65 years) who wereliving in ordinary households in 13 cities (Tehran, Zahedan, Gonbad kavus, Bandar Torkman, Khorram Abad, Sanandaj, Ahwaz, Oroomiyeh, Birjand, Bandar Abbas, Yazd, Arak, and Rasht). Results showed that there is a significant relationship between national identity and religious identity and national identity and religious identity has a strong location among Iranian ethnics. Also, there is a positive significant relationship between different dimensions of national identity and religious identity except in political dimension of national identity and social dimension of religious identity. Lurs, and Baluches have more tendency to national identity and religious identity.