Biblical and Theological Studies Faculty Works

The Evangelical Religious Movement Among the Hmông of Northern Vietnam and the Government Response To It: 1989-2000

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Since 1989 the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) has seen a case of widespread religious change to Evangelical Christianity among the highland minority Hmông population of 558,000 in five of its Northern provinces. Where earlier there were no converts, they now number upwards of 175,000.

Short-wave radio programming from the United States, traditional millenarian beliefs, socio-economic aspirations, and unfulfilled religious longings stimulated Christianity’s explosive growth. Perceived threats to internal security and social destabilization have led to intense government opposition. Documents leaked to outside observers show no letup in state-sponsored persecution or in Hmông persistence in following their newfound religion.

Department(s)

Religious Studies Program; Biblical and Theological Studies

Publication Title

Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies

Volume

16

Issue

2

First Page

79

Last Page

112

Publication Date

2002

DOI

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40860800

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