Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

submittedVersion

Publication Date

6-2020

Abstract

This paper reframes the theory of religious economy by developing an understandingof the effects of transnational religious influence on religious marketplaces. It highlightsthe need to rethink the role of regulation in shaping the ways in which religiousmarketplaces operate. By reinterpreting regulation as the ability of the state to controlthe extent to which religious groups are able to access resources, it argues thattransnational religious networks can enable access to extraneous resources, which, inturn, can enable religious groups to subvert the regulatory prescriptions of the state.Transnational religious influences therefore highlight the porosity of religiouseconomies, and the problem of regulating religious marketplaces. Qualitative data areused to demonstrate how Singapore-based churches create and strengthentransnational religious networks with their counterparts in China. These networksenable religious groups to operate with a degree of independence, and to overcomeregulatory restrictions on religious praxis.

Keywords

Religious economy, religious networks, regulation, Singapore, China.

Discipline

Asian Studies | Religion

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Review of Religion and Chinese Society

Volume

8

Issue

1

First Page

9

Last Page

38

ISSN

2214-3947

Identifier

10.1163/22143955-20201063

Publisher

Brill

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1163/22143955-20201063

Share

COinS