Religion's ‘state effects’: evangelical Christianity, political legitimacy, and state formation

The author argues in this paper that the ‘state effects’ generated by religious movements – even those operating at the margins of societies – require us to consider anew the impact of religious movements on state formation. In Sri Lanka, for instance, evangelicals are a minority. Yet their practice...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fernando, Oshan (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group [2014]
In: Religion
Year: 2014, Volume: 44, Issue: 4, Pages: 573-591
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Sri Lanka / Evangelical movement / Mission (international law / State
IxTheo Classification:AX Inter-religious relations
CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations
KBM Asia
KDG Free church
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:The author argues in this paper that the ‘state effects’ generated by religious movements – even those operating at the margins of societies – require us to consider anew the impact of religious movements on state formation. In Sri Lanka, for instance, evangelicals are a minority. Yet their practice of proselytizing to new audiences was considered ‘unethical,’ generating opposition that was directed not only at them, but also at ruling elites for failing to stem what was seen as an intrusion of incompatible ‘Western’ ideals. Instead of considering how such Christian movements seek to ‘take over’ the functions of the ‘state’ as has been the experience in the United States and parts of Latin America, the author illustrates in this article why it makes more theoretical sense to ask how their activities impinge upon the conceptual frameworks through which the ‘state’ is imagined.
ISSN:0048-721X
Contains:Enthalten in: Religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2014.894951