Christian Modernisation in Amazonia

The project of ontological anthropology expounded by Philippe Descola has unexplored merits for a critical and secular Christian conversion in indigenous societies. Drawing on Shuar descriptions their healing practice context medical pluralism southeast Ecuador, this article argues that animist peoples, Protestant Evangelicalism constitutes step toward philosophical materialism or ‘naturalism’. While reserves central place hallucinogenic plant-induced visions personal empowerment shamanic healing, Evangelicals express preference engaging only the material qualities medicinal plants. This is not, however, consequence adopting disenchanted cosmology but submissive mode relating to immaterial aspects reality normally engaged ancestral ontology. thereby extends turn’s emphasis what known consideration modes relation content.