Studies in Asian Mission History


Book Description

These miscellaneous writings are the result of a lifelong search for undiscovered sources of Asian Mission History. They cover five centuries and nine countries. New information on various contributions by Catholic missionaries to the development of Asian Churches, to Islamology, Sanskrit studies, education and colonization policy has been provided.




Studies in Asian Mission History, 1956-1998


Book Description

In this volume the miscellaneous writings of Arnulf Camps are published. They deal with the activities of Catholic missionaries during the last five centuries in nine countries situated between Turkey and Japan. This research focussed on the discovery of hidden, unknown or forgotten sources. New insights were gained into: the reception of the Christian faith in China and Japan; the missionary efforts to enter the Mogul Empire; the composition of the first Sanskrit grammar by a western scholar; the controversial study of Islam by a Franciscan missionary in China; the vain attempt to enter Afghanistan by Mill Hill missionaries; the pioneering work of the founder of Catholic education in Kandy; the policy and practice of establishing local churches in China, India and Vietnam; and the missionary reform by the first Apostolic Delegate in China. Missiologists and historians will find in this book new material as well as new insights.




Fullness of Life for All


Book Description

This important book is needed today. The challenges that Christian churches face have changed immensely in the last quarter-century. One of the central issues facing the churches everywhere in the world is their missionary presence in their nations and societies. The authors of this volume are among the world's leading missiological thinkers and represent nearly every major Christian tradition in Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. In this new century, the Christian church faces new situations that include, for example, the fall of communism; the globalization of culture; cultural and religious minorities and multiple religious majorities in nearly every country; ethnic and interreligious tensions; relativism and individualism in Western culture; the rise of a global impact of a postmodern world view; poverty in poor countries and in urban areas in wealthy countries; and the decline of Western cultural authority and, with notable exceptions, of religious authority generally. This book speaks of ways in which Christian churches are seeking to respond to these challenges. The purpose of this book is to describe some of the main challenges facing the churches in mission today, particularly with reference to inter-religious conversations all over the world. The title of this volume has been derived from the theme of the 24th General Assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) at Accra in August, 2004 whose theme is, "That All May Have Life in Fullness." Such Christian witness is more than humanness, because it arises from the fullness of God's grace: forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Christian presence in a desperately needy world will make the fullness of God's presence known. Such fullness of life permeates the heart, mind and action of Christians. The editors and authors of this volume hope that it will challenge the reader to reflect upon the missionary presence of the churches and their communication of the Gospel in a secularized, religiously plural world filled with struggles, violence and rumors of war. Fullness of life points to the Kingdom of God that is here already and at the same time not yet here. This constitutes Christian expectation and hope. This book is must reading for anyone interested in seeing the Christian Church respond in new and relevant ways to the new situations facing our world in a new century.




The Jesuit Encounters with Islam in the Asia-Pacific


Book Description

This book explores the strategies adopted by the Jesuit missions under the Portuguese and Spanish patronage vis-à-vis Islamic powers such as the Mughal Empire in South Asia and the expansion of Islam in the Southeast-Asian peripheries. Based on a comparative perspective, this book examines the interconnections between the Jesuit proselytizing activities and the imperial projects of the Iberian crowns in Asia, highlighting the role of the Jesuit missionaries operating in Asian Islamic settings as diplomatic and cultural mediators. It is aimed at researchers and students working on Jesuit missions in South Asia, the Portuguese and Spanish Empires in Asia, early modern cross-cultural diplomacy, early modern travel accounts, and early modern ethnography.




Constants in Context


Book Description

"Mission is handicapped without a sound biblical theology of mission and an understanding of the history of mission leading up to our current context. Constants in Context offers both of these elements. It is mission theology in historical perspective and/or a history of mission that is grounded theologically. The authors describe it as a systematic theology with mission at its core, and a church history shaped by the constant but always contextual Christian traditions. Furthermore it is a constructive contribution to how mission theology needs to be practical and lived out through today's church and in our world. Written collaboratively by Roman Catholic writers Stephen Bevans and Roger Schroeder, both Missionaries of the Divine Word (SVDs). It is a particularly insightful in regard to the history and the various streams of Catholic mission but it also addresses and learns from the other traditions of the church. In fact, one of the book's strengths is its attention to neglected aspects and hidden stories of church and mission history. As a result it is gratifying to be inspired by non-European mission, women in mission and various forgotten or often ignored branches of the church. The book is in three sections: first, there is a framework for cultural contexts and theological constants; second, an in-depth exploration of historical stages and different models for mission; and third, a presentation of theological frameworks for mission. The third section concludes with a case for 'mission as prophetic dialogue' being the most appropriate model for 21st century mission." -- Amazon.com.




True Confucians, bold Christians


Book Description

The three methods of doing mission, namely conquista, accommodation, kenosis need to be seen not so much as historical events that took place in a particular time and space, but rather as deeply engraved mind structures and personal attitudes as we confront many of the modern time issues such as mass poverty and its relationship to the churches, interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, relationship with Islam, Catholic education in public institutions, moral and ethical problems regarding the treatment of embryos for eugenic purposes, issues concerning the end of life, social debate on alternative lifestyles and the role of women in ecclesial institutions, to mention but a few.




A History of Christianity in Asia, Vol. II


Book Description

The story of Christianity in the West has often been told, but the history of Christianity in the East is not as well known. The seed was the same: the good news of Jesus Christ for the whole world, which Christians call "the gospel." But it was sown by different sowers; it was planted in different soil; it grew with a different flavor; and it was gathered by different reapers. It is too often forgotten that the faith moved east across Asia as early as it moved west into Europe. Western church history tends to follow Paul to Philippi and to Rome and on across Europe to the conversion of Constantine and the barbarians. With some outstanding exceptions, only intermittently has the West looked beyond Constantinople as its center. It was a Christianity that has for centuries remained unashamedly Asian. A History of Christianity in Asia makes available immense amounts of research on religious pluralism of Asia and how Christianity spread long before the modern missionary movement went forth in the shelter of Western military might. Invaluable for historians of Asia and scholars of mission, it is stimulating for all readers interested in Christian history. --




Christian Missions in East Bengal


Book Description

As the first Bengalee Archbishop of South Asia, Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC, made a remarkable contribution in the expansion of Christian missionary activity in Bengal through all the three political regimes that Bangladesh went through. In the four hundred years of the history of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh, his appointment as the archbishop not only highlights his role in serving the Catholic Church, but also the importance of Catholic missionary activities in Bangladesh. To explore the history of Protestant missionary activities during the last century, research was carried out and books were published. These scholarly activities left a noticeable gap in the area of the history of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh. This book is a bold attempt to fill in that gap, which led to serious research culminating in the publication of this book. What makes this book remarkable and outstanding is the use of unused sources to reconstruct the life and times of Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly in the sociopolitical background of Bangladesh, especially his role in the liberation war of 1971. His heroic role in the liberation war indelibly earned him a place in the mainstream history of Bangladesh.




Religion in Southeast Asia


Book Description

This engaging encyclopedia covers the religions and religious traditions of various Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In this unprecedented profile of the religions of Southeast Asia, scholars from around the world explore the faiths, spiritual practices, and theological dogmas of the region. The book contains a fascinating collection of accurate, detailed articles; informative sidebars; and an extensive list of reference materials, all of which uncover beliefs in that part of the world. Discussions of ancient religions, combined with a look at contemporary trends, feature topics such as religious fundamentalism, secularism, and globalization. Through 150 alphabetically arranged entries, this encyclopedia investigates the religions and religious traditions of countries such as Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines, among others. Written in an accessible style, this comprehensive reference looks at a variety of belief systems, including Buddhism, Confucianism, tribal practices, Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. A selected, general bibliography offers a listing of the most important print and electronic resources on the topic.




Islam in Traditional China


Book Description

This bibliography lists primary and secondary works on Islam in traditional China, concentrating on two main topics: Muslims and Islam in China; mutual knowledge by Muslims (both inside and outside China) of China and non-Muslim Chinese of Islam and Muslims (both inside and outside China). The main items are provided with subheadings and short annotations and are evaluated by the authors. Donald David Leslie has previously published a comprehensive bibliography on Jews and Judaism in Traditional China in the Monumenta Serica Monograph Series (vol. 44, 1998).