Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century
The Christianization of Minahasa in the mid-nineteenth century is one of the most dramatic and important turning points in the region’s social and cultural history. The standard argument for these conversions focuses on the vaunted narratives of the pioneering Christian missionaries J.G. Schwarz and...
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| الحاوية / القاعدة: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/archipel, |
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| المؤلف الرئيسي: | |
| التنسيق: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| اللغة: | Anglais |
| منشور في: |
Archipel
2025
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| الموضوعات: | |
| الوصول للمادة أونلاين: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:archipel_7496 |
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openedition |
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openedition-oai:revues.org:archipel_7496 https://doi.org/10.4000/144x7 urn:doi:10.4000/144x7 en https://journals.openedition.org/archipel/7496 2025-06-16T02:00:00Z info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess article info:eu-repo/semantics/article urn:handle:20.500.13089/144x7 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century Archipel Association Archipel info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/2104-3655 info:eu-repo/semantics/reference/issn/0044-8613 URI:https://journals.openedition.org/archipel Lopez, Ariel Indonésie Sulawesi Minahasa administration coloniale XIXe siècle missions chrétiennes christianisation Indonesia Sulawesi Minahasa 19th century colonial administration Christian missions Christianization The Christianization of Minahasa in the mid-nineteenth century is one of the most dramatic and important turning points in the region’s social and cultural history. The standard argument for these conversions focuses on the vaunted narratives of the pioneering Christian missionaries J.G. Schwarz and J.F. Riedel, who arrived in Minahasa in the 1830s. This essay, however, argues that the unforeseen effects of the liberalisation reforms of the Dutch colonial state and the long-standing readiness of ordinary Minahasans to convert have been under-recognized crucial factors in the mass conversions. By initiating policies that promoted a market economy and by centralizing government authority in the 1840s-1850s, the Dutch colonial state undermined the authority of the intransigent traditional chiefs and strengthened those who favored conversion. This explanation therefore emphasizes a politico-economic-cultural nexus for mass religious conversions that could offer insights into parallel events in Indonesia and elsewhere. La christianisation de Minahasa au milieu du XIXe siècle constitue lʼun des tournants les plus marquants et les plus importants de lʼhistoire sociale et culturelle de la région. Lʼargumentation habituelle pour ces conversions sʼappuie sur les récits glorieux des missionnaires chrétiens pionniers, J.G. Schwarz et J.F. Riedel, arrivés à Minahasa dans les années 1830. Cet essai avance cependant que les effets imprévus des réformes de libéralisation de lʼÉtat colonial néerlandais et la volonté de longue date à se convertir des gens de Minahasa ont été des facteurs cruciaux sous-estimés dans ces conversions massives. En instaurant des politiques favorisant lʼéconomie de marché et en centralisant lʼautorité gouvernementale dans les années 1840-1850, lʼÉtat colonial néerlandais a sapé lʼautorité des chefs traditionnels intransigeants et renforcé ceux qui étaient favorables à la conversion. Cette explication met donc en évidence un lien politico-économique-culturel à la source des conversions religieuses massives, qui pourrait éclairer des événements parallèles en Indonésie et ailleurs. |
| collection |
OpenEdition Journal |
| language |
Anglais |
| format |
Article ou chapitre numérique |
| building |
0/Bibliothèque numérique/ 1/Bibliothèque numérique/OpenEdition Journals/ |
| topic |
Indonésie Sulawesi Minahasa administration coloniale XIXe siècle missions chrétiennes christianisation Indonesia Sulawesi Minahasa 19th century colonial administration Christian missions Christianization |
| spellingShingle |
Indonésie Sulawesi Minahasa administration coloniale XIXe siècle missions chrétiennes christianisation Indonesia Sulawesi Minahasa 19th century colonial administration Christian missions Christianization Lopez, Ariel Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| description |
The Christianization of Minahasa in the mid-nineteenth century is one of the most dramatic and important turning points in the region’s social and cultural history. The standard argument for these conversions focuses on the vaunted narratives of the pioneering Christian missionaries J.G. Schwarz and J.F. Riedel, who arrived in Minahasa in the 1830s. This essay, however, argues that the unforeseen effects of the liberalisation reforms of the Dutch colonial state and the long-standing readiness of ordinary Minahasans to convert have been under-recognized crucial factors in the mass conversions. By initiating policies that promoted a market economy and by centralizing government authority in the 1840s-1850s, the Dutch colonial state undermined the authority of the intransigent traditional chiefs and strengthened those who favored conversion. This explanation therefore emphasizes a politico-economic-cultural nexus for mass religious conversions that could offer insights into parallel events in Indonesia and elsewhere. |
| author |
Lopez, Ariel |
| author_facet |
Lopez, Ariel |
| author_sort |
Lopez, Ariel |
| title |
Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| title_short |
Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| title_full |
Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| title_fullStr |
Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Christian Conversions and Dutch Colonialism in Minahasa in the Nineteenth Century |
| title_sort |
christian conversions and dutch colonialism in minahasa in the nineteenth century |
| publisher |
Archipel |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| container_title |
URI:https://journals.openedition.org/archipel |
| url |
https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://doi.org/10.4000/144x7 https://ezproxy.univ-orleans.fr/login?url=https://journals.openedition.org/archipel/7496 |
| _version_ |
1877292028457385984 |