Religion and Development : Reconsidering Secularism as the Norm

Until recently, religion as a key concept in the study and practice of development remained rather marginal in academic and public policy circles. As the notion and early theories of development were embedded in the Enlightenment and modernisation traditions, development studies have widely neglected religion. Given that the origins of development assistance trace back to missionary ventures and religiously inspired initiatives during the colonial era, this is something of a surprise. Today, faith-based organisations remain highly prominent actors in the aid industry. (…) The lack of attention to religion and faith in development research and policy thus stands in stark contrast to the paramount role played by religion in the daily lives of individuals and communities, particularly in the most active field of international development cooperation, the developing world.