Sinhalese political Buddhism emerged as a protest against Christian and Western dominance.
Evidence
In a seminal article and subsequent related publications, Obeyesekere referred to the cultural and political shifts postindependence Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka was experiencing as “Protestant Buddhism,” given that “many of its norms and organizational forms are historical derivatives from Protestant Christianity” and that “it is a protest against Christianity and its associated Western political dominance prior to independence” (Obeyesekere 1970: 46–47). Although it may be a misnomer to refer to Theravada Buddhism as Protestant Buddhism (Holt 1990), Obeyesekere was seeking to explain the significant ways in which the sangha was being challenged by the modern milieu confronting it. The political Buddhism of the sangha may indeed be due to such challenges. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 94
Categorization
- QUESTION: The ‘protest against Western dominance’ framing suggests an out-group constructed partly in reaction to colonialism — relevant to manufactured-enmity thesis.
- XREF: connects to: British reversal of Buddhist protection policy triggered Sinhalese nationalist mobilization. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 102; Nationalists invoke South Korea fears to rally Buddhists against Christians. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 243; Sinhalese Buddhist hostility to minorities was a reactive response to colonial marginalization. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 111 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- British reversal of Buddhist protection policy triggered Sinhalese nationalist mobilization.
#corroborates(0.85) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 102 - Sinhalese Buddhist hostility to minorities was a reactive response to colonial marginalization.
#corroborates(0.82) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 111 - Nationalists invoke South Korea fears to rally Buddhists against Christians.
#expands(0.72) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 243 - Sinhalese nationalist identity is constructed as inseparable from Buddhism
#expands(0.72) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 193