Le christianisme à Bali : visées missionnaires, objections orientalistes et appropriation balinaise

Abstract

Christianity in Bali : Missionary Ambitions, Orientalist Objections, and Balinese Appropriation In view of the modest numbers of Balinese Christians, one could assume that Christianity had only a minor influence on the contemporary evolution of the Balinese society. But the fact is that the intrusion of Christianity in the wake of the colonization of their island prompted the Balinese people to question their religious identity. The confrontation with Christian missionaries challenged the Balinese to explicitly define their religion, in order to resist their proselytism. Thus, in response to the missionaries’ criticisms, Balinese intellectuals educated in colonial schools attempted to restrain the ritualistic leanings of their co-religionists, while stressing the theological significance as well as the ethical implications of their religion. By compelling the Balinese people to differentiate among their customary obligations that which belongs to “ religion” from that which pertains to “ tradition”, the presence of Christians in their villages was instrumental in construing the very category “ religion” in Bali. After having briefly recounted the history of the Christianization of Bali, this article investigates the controversy that opposed orientalists and missionaries during the colonial era and goes on to probe into the problems entailed by the Balinese appropriation of Christianity.