From cosmopolitan convergences to situated religious cosmopolitanism

The early spread of the Bahá'í Faith in Singapore and Malaya (1950-1975)

Bibliographic Data

ID4262892
AuthorsTemily Tianmay Tavangar (0000-0003-2598-9671, Department of Sociology The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume23
Issue3
Pages570-582
Publication date2023-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Networks (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1470-2266 • E-ISSN: 1471-0374
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/glob.12386
OpenAlexW4285587751
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited47

This paper contributes to the debate on cosmopolitanism by examining the spread of the Bahá'í Faith in Singapore and Malaya (1950-1975). The Bahá'í Faith is a significant case as its followers came to span the globe in 150 years. This paper probes into the relationship between the faith's transnational spread and its religious cosmopolitanism in three parts. First, I outline the inseparability of 'world citizenship' from Bahá'í teachings. Second, I trace its spread in Singapore and Malaya - a process that initially relied on serendipitous encounters between travellers and migrants, one that I call 'cosmopolitan convergences'. Third, I explore the expansion of the Bahá'í Faith among Malaya's Semai tribe. Here, Bahá'í world citizenship became grounded in collective cultural practices, facilitating what I call 'situated religious cosmopolitanism'. The connection between the contrasting populations discussed in this paper demonstrates the potential of grounding religious networks within normative cosmopolitan ideals and practices

Citizenship · Cosmopolitanism · Faith · Globe · Multiculturalism · Political science · Situated · Sociology · Theology · Tribe · Worship · Anthropology · Asian Studies and History · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious studies · Socioeconomic Development in Asia

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