Proselytization RevisitedRights Talk, Free Markets and Culture Wars
Edited by: Rosalind I.J. Hackett
| Hardback Price £60.00/$95.00 Paperback Price £18.99/$29.95 |    |
Description
Changing and disseminating one’s religion have become even more controversial and problematic than they were when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drawn up in 1948. Many religious groups decry proselytizing activity, yet arguably still engage in it. Some see the “war for souls” as an aggressive act of political domination in a postcolonial, multicultural world. Others view it more positively as healthy cultural exchange in our neo-liberal, rights-oriented world.
The current volume updates and expands earlier studies of proselytism, and explores more thoroughly the theoretical and practical implications of proselytization and anti-proselytization, notably within the current phase of democratization and globalization. Several authors offer analyses of the new actors, movements, and territories now associated with proselytic activity, demonstrating its global signifi cance. A particular emphasis of the book is on the diverse conversionist strategies being deployed by various religious organizations to contest, accommodate, or circumvent changing patterns of state regulation. Modern media technologies feature prominently in many of the studies. To complement this, some contributors examine the histories of those contexts where the entanglements of colonialism, missionization, and nationalism have shaped current environments of hostility or hospitality with regard to religious activism. The cross-cultural and multidisciplinary
orientation of this edited work provides a new perspective on this increasingly salient and contested topic.
Changing and disseminating one’s religion have become even more controversial and problematic than they were when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drawn up in 1948. Many religious groups decry proselytizing activity, yet arguably still engage in it. Some see the “war for souls” as an aggressive act of political domination in a postcolonial, multicultural world. Others view it more positively as healthy cultural exchange in our neo-liberal, rights-oriented world.
The current volume updates and expands earlier studies of proselytism, and explores more thoroughly the theoretical and practical implications of proselytization and anti-proselytization, notably within the current phase of democratization and globalization. Several authors offer analyses of the new actors, movements, and territories now associated with proselytic activity, demonstrating its global signifi cance. A particular emphasis of the book is on the diverse conversionist strategies being deployed by various religious organizations to contest, accommodate, or circumvent changing patterns of state regulation. Modern media technologies feature prominently in many of the studies. To complement this, some contributors examine the histories of those contexts where the entanglements of colonialism, missionization, and nationalism have shaped current environments of hostility or hospitality with regard to religious activism. The cross-cultural and multidisciplinary
orientation of this edited work provides a new perspective on this increasingly salient and contested topic.
Contents
1. Rosalind I. J. Hackett, “Revisiting Proselytization in the Context of Rights Talk, Free Markets and Culture Wars”
2. Jean-Francois Mayer, "Conflicts over Proselytism - An Overview and Comparative Perspective"
3. Jacob De Roover and Sarah Claerhout, "Conversion of the World: Proselytization in India and the Universalization of Christianity”
4. Grace Kao, "The Logic of Anti-Proselytization, Revisited"
5. Paul Freston, "The Changing Face of Christian Proselytization: New Actors from the Global South"
6. Heather Sharkey, "Muslim Apostasy, Christian Conversion, and Religious Freedom in Egypt"
7. F.-K. Asonzeh Ukah, "Seeing is More Than Believing: Posters and Proselytization in Nigeria"
8. Steve C. Berkwitz, “Buddhism and the Politics of Conversion in Sri Lanka”
9. Rachelle Jacobs Scott, “Merit and the Search for Inner Peace: the Discourses and Technologies of Dhammakaya Proselytization”
10. Jean DeBernardi, “Asia’s Antioch: Evangelical Christianity and Proselytism in Singapore”
11. Paul-Francois Tremlett, “False Consciousness and the Jargon of Authenticity: Religion and Nationalism in the Christianised Lowland Philippines”
12. Patsy Rahn, "Salvation through Secular Protest: the Development of Falun Gong Proselytization”
13. Mark Mullins, “The Social and Legal Context of Proselytization in Contemporary Japanese Religions”
14. Olga Kazmina, "Negotiating Proselytism in 21st Century Russia"
15. Bayram Balci, “Between Da’wa and Mission: Turkish Islamic Movements in the Turkic World (Central Asia and the Caucasus)”
16. Julia S. Kovalchuk, “Spiritual Wars in the 10-40 Window: Korean Proselytism among Russia’s Asian Minorities”
17. Shawn Arthur, “Proselytization or Information? Wicca and the Internet”
18. Omri Elisha, “You Can’t Talk to an Empty Stomach: Faith-based Activism, Holistic Evangelism, and the Publicity of Evangelical Engagement”
19. James T. Richardson, Concluding remarks
Reviews
'Proselytization Revisited makes a valuable contribution to the literature by bringing together in one volume the variety of arguments made for and against proselytization in different regions and contexts. As the authors note, even opposition to proselytizing is now often argued in the language of human rights (Mayer, p. 44). This collection of essays yields a very instructive demonstration of the manifold interests that 'rights talk' can be made to serve.'
C.S. Adcock, Washington University at St. Louis, Religion 40 (2010)
'This volume is a significant, sophisticated, and interestingly varied contribution to an important conversation.'
Winnifred F.Sullivan, Director, Law and Religion Program, University at Buffalo Law School
'While a majority of the contributions understandably focus on reactions to Christian missionary activities, there are also chapters on Falun Gong, Dhammakaya (a Buddhist movement in Thailand), the followers of the Islamic teacher Fetullah Gülen in Central Asia, reactions to the proselytization of new religious movements in Japan, and the Wiccan use of the Internet. All this makes the volume a rich resource on a topic that won't lose significance in years to come.'
Religion Watch, vol. 24, no. 2, 2009
'Attention to terminology, careful research, and rigorous argument mark all the essays,and Hackett's introduction and James Richardson's concluding chapter identify the topics and issues that call for further analysis. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above; general readers.'
CHOICE, June 2009
Specifications
| ISBN-10 (Hardback) | 1845532279 |
| ISBN-13 (Hardback) | 9781845532277 |
| Price (Hardback) | £60.00/$95.00 |
| ISBN-10 (Paperback) | 1845532287 |
| ISBN-13 (Paperback) | 9781845532284 |
| Price (Paperback) | £18.99/$29.95 |
| Publication Date | October 2008 |
| Pages | 496 |
| Size | 234 x 156mm |
| Illustrations | 7 black and white figures |
| Readership | scholarly |
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