State and social Christianity in post-colonial Singapore
In the context of Christianity's rapid growth in post-colonial Singapore, why has Pentecostalism replaced liberal Christianity as the dominant form in the last few decades? Going beyond existing cultural explanations of Pentecostal affinity with Asian folk religions and the modernization thesis...
| Published in: | Sojourn |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Institution
2010
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| In: |
Sojourn
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| Further subjects: | B
Social environment
B Singapore B Einflussgröße B Christianity B Political movement B State B Cause B Ideology B Development B Singapore Christianity Religious movement Bestimmungsfaktoren Soziale Faktoren Ideologische Faktoren politische Bewegung / Gesellschaftliche Verhältnis Religionsgemeinschaft - Staat Entwicklungsperspektive und -tendenz B Social movement B Religious organization B Tendency B Religious movement |
| Summary: | In the context of Christianity's rapid growth in post-colonial Singapore, why has Pentecostalism replaced liberal Christianity as the dominant form in the last few decades? Going beyond existing cultural explanations of Pentecostal affinity with Asian folk religions and the modernization thesis, I look at the Church as social movement, as social Christianity engaging, specifically in Singapore, the post-colonial developmental state. Pentecostalism became popular after the state consolidated its rule in the 1980s and suppressed nascent liberal Christian movements. This is because, compared to its fundamentalist evangelical competitor, the Pentecostal development of Asian contextual theologies of spiritual warfare and blessings provided young Singaporeans with practical ideologies to make sense of the spiritual telos of the post-colonial nation and engage the developmental ethos of the state. Singaporean Pentecostalists are at the crossroads today, faced with a decision between the social justice emphasis of liberal Christianity and fundamentalist moral activism. (Sojourn/GIGA) |
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| ISSN: | 0217-9520 |
| Contains: | In: Sojourn
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