The Success of Christianization in Fiji

Why did the missionary activities of some colonizers result in more conversions to Christianity in some countries than others? In this project, I answer this question through a comparison of Fiji and New Zealand. Fiji's population is 69% Christian today compared to the 32% Christian population of New Zealand, despite the fact the two countries were both colonized by the British empire around the same time and were exposed to similar missionary practices. Drawing on Frantz Fanon and comparative accounts on colonialism, I argue that an important part of Christian conversion through colonization, or Christianization, is taking over the minds of the colonial subjects so that they remain subservient. Throughout this project, the factors I identify that most affect the inclination of a native society to convert to Christianity are the colonial history and treatment of that native group, whether the type of colonial rule was a direct or indirect form of rule, and the geographic landscape of the colonized territory. I argue that the British method of colonialism used against the Fijians was specifically designed to make the Fijians more accepting of Christianity, while the New Zealand method of colonialism was too violent and alienating for Christianity to thrive, and that the Fijian colonial authorities learned from the practices in New Zealand in order to achieve more conversions in Fiji. To substantiate these claims, I use a number of sources including letters and journal entries from historical leaders of both Fiji and New Zealand, as well as books that discuss the colonial experiences of each country.