RT Article
T1 Cultural Change versus Adaptability? The Ascendance of the Christian God within Zo Traditional Cosmology
JF Mission studies
VO 40
IS 1
SP 49
OP 67
A1 Pau, Pum Khan
A1 Mung, Thang Sian
LA English
PB Brill
YR 2023
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1842151339
AB This paper examines the endeavors of Christian missions seeking converts from an indigenous society. It places the concept of “cultural change”, often promoted by Christian missions, against the concept of “cultural adaptability”. Taking the case of the Zo people of the India-Burma borderlands, this paper argues that the ascendance of the Christian God within a traditional Zo cosmology was not simply an outcome of missionary endeavors. Rather, the stringent efforts of the missionaries, who sought to missionize by opening the “hearts and minds” of the native people through the tools of education and health services, faced serious challenges and opposition from the indigenous Pau Cin Hau movement. However, it was the attack on the lesser spirits by the indigenous movement which paved the way for the Christian God to be easily fitted into the upper tier of the traditional cosmology, and consequently led to the spread of Christianity.
K1 Chin Hills
K1 Pau Cin Hau
K1 Zo
K1 indigenous cosmology
K1 Culture
K1 Christianity
DO 10.1163/15733831-12341886