Savage Systems: Colonialism and Comparative Religion in Southern Africa - Paperback

by David Chidester (Author)

Savage Systems examines the emergence of the concepts of "religion"and "religions" on colonial frontiers. The book offers a detailed analysis of the ways in which European travelers, missionaries, settlers, and government agents, as well as indigenous Africans, engaged in the comparison of alternative religious ways of life as one dimension of intercultural contact. Focusing primarily on ninteenth-century frontier relations, David Chidester demonstrates that the terms and conditions for comparison--including a discrouse about "otherness" that were established during this period still remains.

A volume in the series Studies in Religion and Culture

Back Jacket

Savage Systems examines the emergence of the concepts of "religion" and "religions" on colonial frontiers. The book offers a detailed analysis of the ways in which European travelers, missionaries, settlers, and government agents, as well as indigenous Africans, engaged in the comparison of alternative religious ways of life as one dimension of intercultural contact. Focusing primarily on nineteenth-century frontier relations, David Chidester demonstrates that the terms and conditions for comparison - including a discourse about "otherness" - that were established during this period still remain.

Author Biography

David Chidester is Professor of Comparative Religion and Director of the Institute for Comparative Religion in Southern Africa at the University of Cape Town. Among his preivous publications are American Sacred Space, Religions of South Africa, Shots in the Streets: Violence and Religion in South Africa, and Religion and Public Education: Options for a New South Africa.