Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda

by Timothy Longman

Although Rwanda is among the most Christian countries in Africa, in the 1994 genocide, church buildings became the primary killing grounds. To explain why so many Christians participated in the violence, this book looks at the history of Christian engagement in Rwanda and then turns to a rich body of original national and local-level research to argue that Rwanda’s churches have consistently allied themselves with the state and played ethnic politics. Comparing two local Presbyterian parishes in Kibuye prior to the genocide demonstrates that progressive forces were seeking to democratize the churches. Just as Hutu politicians used the genocide of Tutsi to assert political power and crush democratic reform, church leaders supported the genocide to secure their own power. The fact that Christianity inspired some Rwandans to oppose the genocide demonstrates that opposition by the churches was possible and might have hindered the violence.

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jared Donis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is one of the best books I read in 2016. Probably the best work on the Rwandan genocide. Academically well researched, although the case studies he used to make generalizations with are too small. Honest, penetrating analysis. Not dry too. Every chapter sparks some kind of emotion: anger, regret, shame, anguish, pity...

Loved it!

[Heidi Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it possible that the lives of more than a million people were extinguished in just three short months -- and at the hands of former friends, neighbors, and even former friends? How had so many people lost sight of their moral center so completely, and in such a short time?

In "Christianity adn the Genocide in Rwanda," journalist Timothy Longman explores the history of Rwanda to reveal the social, religious, political, and cultural beliefs and ideologies that caused the violence to erupt -- not just during those bloody 100 days, but in the previous decades as well.

I read this book while I was doing research to help Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga write his new book "Forgiveness Makes You Free." It was the single most important published source to help me truly understand why the violence was inevitable then -- and why it is a cautionary tale for us as well.

Worth reading.