Abstract:
During the last six decades, but more specifically during the last two decades, many
parts of South Asia, including Sri Lanka, witnessed a relatively a large influx of new
Christian sects based in US, Europe and East Asia. In Sri Lanka, in recent times, this
situation has led to heightened tension among religious communities and in certain
instances given way to violent conflict. An alarming trend has been the recent wave of
organized attacks on evangelical churches in Sri Lanka. Another significant development
in the so-called unethical conversions discourse has been the proposal of anticonversion
bills in the parliament by the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a party made of
Buddhist monks and the Minister in charge of Buddhist Affairs.
In this paper, I will discuss why people join these evangelical movements and assess the
consequences of dynamics of new Christianities in Sri Lanka. I have come to the
conclusion that the popular explanation of the alleged economic incentives offered by
these groups is inadequate to understand why people join these new Christian sects and
remain in them. The reasons for membership in these groups are varied and complex.
The behaviour of some of these groups has been a catalyst for conflict formation.
Moreover, there also seems to be a link between extremist nationalist politics and
violence directed against evangelical Christian sects operating in Sri Lanka.
The study is based on selected areas in Sri Lanka. Participant observation and in-depth
interviewing are the major methodologies used in the study.