Pathways to Development Through Local Faith Communities

Abstract

Conceding that religious and other forms of fundamentalism can be very destructive, and recognising that the role of religion within development theory and practice remains marginalised, this paper considers the positive changes that are possible at the nexus between ‘religion’ and what can loosely be described as ‘development.’ In this paper original research on gender programming in the Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Program is presented to illustrate the potential for poverty reduction and human development when development processes engage with, rather than avoid, religion. We argue that in PNG attempts to separate ‘religion’ and ‘development’ result in an uncomfortable dichotomy that may impede development goals.