ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that in Southeast Asia religion can both enable and stifle development, whilst development can influence processes of religious continuity and change. It discusses that the references to religious groups will encompass a range of actors, including religious organizations, religious non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs). The chapter provides a broad overview of the dynamics and tensions that exist at the nexus of religion and development in Southeast Asia. It explores how development shapes religion and also explores how religion shapes development. The chapter presents the intersection of religion and development, how the coalescence of socio-economic need and religious provision can bring about a number of questionable outcomes. Some parts of Southeast Asia have developed to an extent that they have experienced a number of social shifts, which in turn have contributed to processes of religious transformation. Throughout the region, therefore, religion is recognized as being 'indexed' to development.
