Anti-conversion violence targets even non-proselytizing Catholic churches

Evidence

The number of Christian evangelicals supported through various Western churches—mostly American–operating in Sri Lanka indisputably has increased. What is debatable, however, is whether any of these missionaries resort to bribery when trying to convert people to their denominations. Indeed, in many areas, most converts to new denominations used to be Catholics. This fact has not prevented Buddhist extremists, however, from attacking Catholic churches. In some instances, Catholic churches that have existed for decades have been attacked even though Catholic clergy do not proselytize openly and are circumspect about converting Buddhists and Hindus. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 254

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the manufactured-enemy thesis: the target group need not actually proselytize for the threat narrative to be sustained. Connects to Jan-Werner Müller’s and Girardian readings of how majorities manufacture predatory minorities. — connects to: Anti-Christian church attacks stem from nationalist ideology, not missionary activity — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 268; Martyrdom movements can backfire and accelerate conversion to the oppressor’s faith — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 540; The media codes only certain groups’ violence as religiously motivated — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 198 (+2 more)
• SHARE: For someone interested in Sri Lankan religious politics — the detail that most converts used to be Catholics yet Buddhists attack Catholic churches anyway.

Broader Connections

• Anti-Christian church attacks stem from nationalist ideology, not missionary activity #contradicts (0.72) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 268
• The media codes only certain groups’ violence as religiously motivated #corroborates (0.72) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 198
• Martyrdom movements can backfire and accelerate conversion to the oppressor’s faith #complicates (0.70) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 540
• Medieval missionaries often converted preaching into deliberate provocation of violence #complicates (0.70) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 683