Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
12-2013
Abstract
Christianity has experienced rapid growth in Indonesia, particularly the Evangelical and Pentecostal/Charismatic movements, which find fertile ground among the urban middle class. This phenomenon has given rise to fears of Christianisation among the Muslim majority, who perceive the Christian growth as a moral threat. Tensions between Christians and Muslims have been part and parcel of religious developments in Indonesia. The author addresses the ways in which Protestant churches in Indonesia negotiate between evangelism (to fulfil the ‘Great Commission’) on the one hand, and multiculturalism (peaceful coexistence with difference) on the other. The article will examine how Christians in Indonesia navigate through the multicultural environment of otherness, and how they negotiate plurality within Christianity. By highlighting the diversity and dynamics within Christianity, this article provides a new perspective on Indonesian Christians, beyond the popular Muslim perception of Christians as a monolithic and homogeneous group.
Keywords
Christianity, evangelism, Indonesia, multiculturalism, Protestantism
Discipline
Asian Studies | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Religion
Research Areas
Humanities
Publication
Social Compass
Volume
60
Issue
4
First Page
457
Last Page
470
ISSN
0037-7686
Identifier
10.1177/0037768613502758
Publisher
SAGE
Citation
HOON, Chang Yau.(2013). Between Evangelism and Multiculturalism: The Dynamics of Christianity in Indonesia. Social Compass, 60(4), 457-470.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1342
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1177/0037768613502758
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Religion Commons