Reviewed by Paul Mortilla, Shepherd School of Music
Every chapter of Exploring Religious Diversity and Covenantal Pluralism in Asia, Volume I provides the reader with a vivid description of how ‘covenantal pluralism’ may be manifesting itself in various countries across Asia. Covering a wide range of topics ranging from cyber-protestantism, cultural homogeneity, ‘natural religion’, syncretism, and policy: this text is a must for anyone interested in researching how religion impacts the cultural and political landscape in countries with highly diverse populations. Each author skillfully approaches various linguistic differences around the meaning of the word ‘religion’, making a key point to emphasize the difficulty around translating the term into each country’s native tongue (many of which lack an explicit nomenclature). This often skews the impression of popular consensus. Giving clear comparisons of etic and emic points of view, this reader offers a nuanced and succinct methodology for exploring how covenantal pluralism may provide great benefit and relief in cultural tensions around religious expression and suppression.
Anyone interested in how religion plays a key role in Asia’s rapidly changing political climate should definitely read Exploring Religious Diversity and Covenantal Pluralism in Asia.