Impact of Christianity on the Uraon of the Chainpur Belt in Chotanagpur: An Analysis of Its Cultural Processes

Abstract

This study considers the impact of Christianity on the tribal culture of the Uraon and points to the existence of five cultural processes: oscillation, scrutinization, combination, indigenization, and retroversion, which are loosely associated with progressive phases of Christianization. Each of these processes is discussed in detail, with a description of how the initially stable culture of the converts become unstable and finally regains stability as succeeding generations blend the new ideas with the old, rationalizing and readopting many old beliefs and practices that were initially abandoned. It is further suggested that the set of processes discussed here might have wide applicability in the study of the impact of Christianity on native peoples.