We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Portable Politics and Durable Religion: The Moral Worldviews of American Evangelical Missionaries.
- Authors
Wellman Jr., James K.; Keyes, Matthew
- Abstract
This study examines the portable politics and durable religion of American evangelical missionaries from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) in their experiences abroad culturally, politically, and religiously. The data comes from semi-structured interviews with 27 missionaries conducted between December 2003 and July 2005. We argue that the most plausible explanation of the durability of evangelical religion can be found by analyzing the multilayered structure of the evangelical moral world-view. We find that (1) the cultural and political views of missionaries arise from a core moral world-view; (2) these moral worldviews are perceived as absolute and above culture, and thus withstand criticism and can be transported to other cultures; (3) the moral worldviews of missionaries who had experienced greater cultural and religious diversity at home were more resistant to change in their encounters abroad; and (4) the primary critique evangelical missionaries make of America is subjective and personal rather than social and systemic.
- Subjects
UNITED States; RELIGION &; sociology; MISSIONARIES; EVANGELICALISM -- Social aspects; CONDUCT of life -- Social aspects; PSYCHOLOGY of the clergy; RELIGION &; culture; SOCIAL history
- Publication
Sociology of Religion, 2007, Vol 68, Issue 4, p383
- ISSN
1069-4404
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/socrel/68.4.383