Sacred Protest: Religion, Power and Resistance in an Era of Upheaval

Analysis of the complex interrelations of religion and modern protest movements draws attention to the ways that pervasive societal anxieties are taken up in religious, interreligious and transreligious discourses. The last years have seen forms of major social upheaval in the form of protests the world over. These have included popular protest movements in dozens of countries, around the world. These have led to major policy backdowns and/or governmental crackdown and even the overthrow of governments. Triggers can be seemingly minor or sudden and shocking. In both cases, protests often then develop along predictable sightlines of economic concern and political parties. Recent protests and counter protests have been surrounded by a deluge of disinformation and conspiracy. In several cases, inconspicuous beginnings led to society-wide or global debates concerning religion, ethnicity, the stability of democratic institutions, fundamental human rights, and even the future of humanity. In short, religion and protest converge and diverge and in pursuit of various ends, making careful analysis of religion and protest necessary. Sacred Protest seeks to make a timely and constructive contribution to this critically important conversation.