Peter van der Veer Knihy

Does modernity render religion politically irrelevant? Conventional wisdom suggests it does, viewing the rise of nationalism, capitalism, and state institutions as favoring secularism and confining religion to the private sphere. This collection of essays challenges that perspective, revealing the intricate relationship between religion and politics in both Eastern and Western contexts. Focusing on India, Japan, Britain, and the Netherlands, the contributors illustrate how religion and nationalism intertwine to create concepts such as a nation chosen for a historical mission, the potential for national revival, and political leadership as a form of salvation. The volume explores how religious discourse and practices can serve nationalist agendas, particularly in providing meaning to sacrifice during national struggles. Through a comparative lens, the book highlights the interconnectedness of developments in colonizing and colonized nations, often viewed in isolation. The contributors include notable scholars such as Benedict R. Anderson, Talal Asad, and Susan Bayly, among others, who collectively enrich the discourse on the enduring relevance of religion in the political landscape of modernity.