ABSTRACT
The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent independence of Kyrgyzstan in 1991 resulted in rapid social and economic change and a greater openness to new ideas. This chapter will focus on the phenomenon of religious revitalization that has taken place in Kyrgyz society as part of this new openness and change in the post-communist era. In particular, this chapter will consider the impact that Christianity has had within the Kyrgyz community as growing numbers of Kyrgyz have embraced the Protestant Christian faith. This has challenged a common assumption in Kyrgyzstan regarding Kyrgyz identity that “to be Kyrgyz is to be Muslim”. For the purposes of this chapter, I define “Protestant” as those non-Russian Orthodox and non-Roman Catholic elements of the Christian faith that are generally considered part of mainstream Christianity, such as Evangelical and Pentecostal, but not “sects”, such as Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons.
