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Accepted Paper:
Conversion to Christianity and healing: the Naga of north-east India
Vibha Joshi
(University of Oxford)
Paper short abstract:
Using the concepts of rupture (Joel Robbins) and transnational transcendence (Csordas) the paper explores the theme of healing and its historical and contemporary role in Christianity among the Naga of northeast India.
Paper long abstract:
The Naga peoples of Nagaland in north eastern India have over two or three generations converted almost entirely to Christianity from their indigenous animistic religion. Situating the phenomenon of conversion in its socio-political and historical context, I explore how far the analytical categories of rupture (Joel Robbins) and transnational transcendence (Thomas Csordas) can be applied to conversion among Naga. I then conclude that the theme of healing is the connecting thread which runs through the historical and contemporary role of Christianity and its continued importance in the shift from individual to collective healing.