Salvation? Conversion as Part of the Process of Colonization

Kalisch examines the complex relationship between Mennonite settlers and the indigenous Enlhet people in the Paraguayan Chaco. She argues that Mennonite missionary work in the Chaco was driven by a combination of religious conviction, fear of the unknown, and economic self-interest. The settlers viewed their mission as a civilizing project, aiming to "save" the Enlhet from their "pagan" ways and integrate them into Paraguayan society. This involved efforts to sedentarize the Enlhet, control their movements, and integrate them into the Mennonite labor force. She tackles the potential for exploitation inherent in the relationship. The settlers, while claiming to act out of Christian love, also sought to benefit from the Enlhet's labor and ensure their own economic prosperity. She also contrasts the Mennonite perspective on their missionary work with the potential experiences and perspectives of the Enlhet people, who may have viewed conversion as a means of survival or a way to navigate the changing social and political landscape.