Kavirah (2010) argues that the growing religiosity in many parts of the world is quite different from our traditional understanding of religion (in his writing, he refers to rising Hindu identity and nationalism).  He argues that we need to distinguish between ‘thick and thin religion’.  Thick religion encompasses traditional rituals, practices, and beliefs, whereas thin religion intersects religion, politics and nationalism and serves as a tool to bring people together for a cause, such as Hindu nationalism or Muslim victimhood (a ploy of terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda).

Source: Ghaffar-Kucher, A. (2011).  The religification of Pakistani-American Youth.  American Educational Research Journal.  Pgs. 17-18.

Available at: http://aer.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/08/02/0002831211414858