Religious imperialism is a policy intended to spread religious beliefs to people, territories or nations through the use of warfare, oppression, conversion and other means. Historically, religious imperialism has been very closely linked with imperialism, nationalism and colonialism. It is often difficult to distinguish religious imperialism from these broader movements.

Instances of religious imperialism include

• the spread of Hinduism in the Vedic period
• the spread of Buddhism under Emperor Ashoka
• the spread of Islam during the era of Arab expansion
• the use of variable taxation to encourage religious conversion
• the European Crusades
• the use of the Spanish Inquisition to consolidate control over the Iberian Peninsula after the Reconquista
• Japanese Shinto imperialism in the Meiji, Taisho and Showa era
• European use of Christian missionaries to support colonization efforts throughout the world and to place pressure on foreign governments

Religious imperialism can be contrasted with separation of church and state and religious freedom.

See also

• Imperialism

External links

• National Review: Minorities in the Middle
• Free Republic: From the Evil Empire to the Empire for Liberty