Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda

Nonfiction, History, Africa, Religion & Spirituality
Cover of the book Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda by Timothy Longman, Cambridge University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Timothy Longman ISBN: 9780511847547
Publisher: Cambridge University Press Publication: September 7, 2009
Imprint: Cambridge University Press Language: English
Author: Timothy Longman
ISBN: 9780511847547
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication: September 7, 2009
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Language: English

Although Rwanda is among the most Christian countries in Africa, in the 1994 genocide, church buildings became the primary killing grounds. To explain why so many Christians participated in the violence, this book looks at the history of Christian engagement in Rwanda and then turns to a rich body of original national- and local-level research to argue that Rwanda's churches have consistently allied themselves with the state and played ethnic politics. Comparing two local Presbyterian parishes in Kibuye before the genocide demonstrates that progressive forces were seeking to democratize the churches. Just as Hutu politicians used the genocide of Tutsi to assert political power and crush democratic reform, church leaders supported the genocide to secure their own power. The fact that Christianity inspired some Rwandans to oppose the genocide demonstrates that opposition by the churches was possible and might have hindered the violence.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Although Rwanda is among the most Christian countries in Africa, in the 1994 genocide, church buildings became the primary killing grounds. To explain why so many Christians participated in the violence, this book looks at the history of Christian engagement in Rwanda and then turns to a rich body of original national- and local-level research to argue that Rwanda's churches have consistently allied themselves with the state and played ethnic politics. Comparing two local Presbyterian parishes in Kibuye before the genocide demonstrates that progressive forces were seeking to democratize the churches. Just as Hutu politicians used the genocide of Tutsi to assert political power and crush democratic reform, church leaders supported the genocide to secure their own power. The fact that Christianity inspired some Rwandans to oppose the genocide demonstrates that opposition by the churches was possible and might have hindered the violence.

More books from Cambridge University Press

Cover of the book The Anonymous Sayings of the Desert Fathers by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Human Development in the Life Course by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Ideology in Language Use by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Law in a Market Context by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Religious Offence and Human Rights by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book The Taxation of Corporate Groups under Consolidation by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Collecting Early Christian Letters by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Union and Unionisms by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Relativistic Cosmology by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book The De Re Militari of Vegetius by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Introducing Morphology by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book The Private World of Soviet Scientists from Stalin to Gorbachev by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Partisan Bonds by Timothy Longman
Cover of the book Multilayer Social Networks by Timothy Longman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy