Alan Strathern, a Professor of Global History at Oxford, dives into the intriguing dynamics of rulers converting to new religions from 1450 to 1850. He explores the complex interactions of local beliefs and foreign faiths, revealing how conversions in places like Kongo and Japan shaped political power. Strathern discusses the significant consequences of Christianity as both a source of strength in battle and a catalyst for societal change. His case studies reveal global patterns that illuminate today's religious landscape, sparking a fascinating dialogue about faith and authority.
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Two Types of Religiosity
Religion splits into two: immanentism and transcendentalism, shaping monarchy's sacredness differently.
Immanentism focuses on worldly success, while transcendentalism centers on salvation and truth conveyed by texts and clergy.
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Congo's Christianity as Battle Power
King of Congo's conversion linked Christianity to initiation cults giving battle power.
Baptism seen as source of victory and supernatural military aid, solidifying royal authority.
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Christianity's Rise and Fall in Japan
Japanese warlords adopted Christianity to gain military advantages in a fragmented, competitive era.
Buddhism's strong presence and political threat led to Christianity's eventual suppression and religious persecution.
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Alan Strathern's "Converting Rulers" examines historical instances where rulers converted their entire countries to new religions. The book uses case studies to analyze the complex interplay of religious, political, and social factors driving these conversions. Strathern explores the motivations of rulers, the role of missionaries, and the impact on the societies involved. The book challenges conventional narratives and offers a nuanced understanding of religious change. It provides a comparative framework for understanding the dynamics of religious conversion in diverse historical contexts.
Unearthly Powers
Alan Strathern
Why did so many rulers throughout history risk converting to a new religion brought by outsiders? In his award-winning Unearthly Powers (2019), Dr. Alan Strathern set out a theoretical framework for understanding the relation between religion and political authority based on a distinction between two kinds of religion - immanentism and transcendentalism - and the different ways they made monarchy sacred. Please listen to his interview on that book on the New Books Network!
This ambitious and innovative companion volume Converting Rulers: Global Patterns, 1450–1850(Cambridge University Press, 2024) tests and substantiates this approach using case studies from Kongo (1480–1530), Japan (1560–1614), Ayutthaya (Thailand, 1660–1690) and Hawaii (1800–1830). Through in-depth analysis of key turning points in the careers of warlords, chiefs and kings, a tapestry of unique characters and stories is brought to light. However, these examples ultimately demonstrate that global patterns of conversion can be established to illuminate the religious geography of the world today.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
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