The Apologetics of Decolonisation: Defending Religion in South and Southeast Asia after the Second World War
The Apologetics of Decolonisation: Defending Religion in South and Southeast Asia after the Second World War
Decolonisation in South and Southeast Asia after 1945 was a period of intense negotiations over the role of religion in postcolonial society. For many witnesses in the religious field, religion had to be defended against primarily three threats: the changing power structures of imperial decline; communism; and secular nationalism. In this chapter I examine in how far the (Christian) concept of apologetics is suitable for world-historical research. My argument is that apologetics can indeed broaden our conceptual and empirical understanding of the twentieth century and deepen our understanding of religion and decolonisation. To do so, I propose to distinguish between three different forms of apologetics in word and deed: transnational forms of apologetics (illustrated by the theologies and institutional practices of the Church Missionary Society), national-majoritarian apologetics (discussed with the example of the Hindu-nationalist RSS in post-Partition India), and national-adaptive apologetics (as practices by Muhammadiyah in early-postcolonial Indonesia).
Keywords: Apologetics, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Decolonisation, Communism, Nationalism, Secularism, Church Missionary Society, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Muhammadiyah
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