Protestantism in the Bahnar ethnic community in Gia Lai province

Abstract

Protestantism has been introduced in the Central Highlands since the late 20s of the twentieth century and closely associated with the local ethnic groups here. Despite other religions such as Catholicism, Buddhism, and Cao Dai in the region, Protestantism is considered an influential religion with strong impact on not only Bahnar ethnic group’s religious life but also the socio-economic, cultural, and political development of this locality. Therefore, solving the current Protestants’ issues plays an important role in the sustainable development strategy of the region. The paper states the history of Protestantism missionaries in Bahnar group, identifies problems, and proposes solutions to stabilizing Bahnar group in the province.