Christian conversion in colonial Africa relied on political alliance and coercion, not persuasion

Evidence

I suggest that we must not underestimate the violence involved in all these intentions and their execution. The imposition of an alien faith, in the name of conversion to Christianity, is not always steeped in persuasion and the ability of the convert to see the reason or power of the missionary’s message. It involves clear dependence on and alliance with the political arm that grants favors to enable the Christian message to be spread with greater success. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 449

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to broader critiques of missionary work as inseparable from colonial power — echoes the Frankfurt School analysis of instrumental reason serving power. — connects to: British colonizers broke treaty pledges and backed Christianity’s conversion drive — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 103; Karen conversion to Christianity came wrapped in deference to white colonists; Missionary theology converted Africans to a progressive politics promising liberation through labor and faith.