‘Culture’ as a tool and an obstacle: missionary encounters in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan

Pelkmans, Mathijs (2007) ‘Culture’ as a tool and an obstacle: missionary encounters in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 13 (4). pp. 881-899. ISSN 1359-0987

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Official URL: https://rai.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.11...

Abstract

The relatively large number of converts from Islam to evangelical Christianity in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan is exceptional in the Muslim world and has challenged local confidence that Islam is an inseparable element of Kyrgyz nationality. I argue that part of the missionary success stems from unexpected synergies between communist cultural legacies and new evangelical approaches. Both communists and evangelicals attempted to advance their ideals by disconnecting religion and culture. But although these efforts delivered tangible results, they also had the (unintended) consequence of folklorizing and objectifying ‘culture’, thereby partly re-inscribing the ethnic boundaries that they intended to overcome.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: B Mission theology/theory > Conversion
B Mission theology/theory > Contextualization/Inculturation
F Interreligious Dialogue and Witness > Islam > Christian-Muslim Dialogue
G Christian traditions/Denominations > Evangelical
Divisions: Central Asia > Kyrgyzstan
Depositing User: Users 3 not found.
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2020 20:38
Last Modified: 18 Sep 2020 20:38
URI: https://ceeamsprints.osims.org/id/eprint/1765

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