1st Edition

Christianity and Missions, 1450–1800

Edited By J. S. Cummins Copyright 1997

    The theme of this volume is the transformation of European Christianity into a world-wide religion. The spirit of crusade against Islam was one impulse driving the early expansion; these essays show how new ideologies of mission were developed and how perceptions have continued to evolve, notably in the light of Vatican II. They reveal the differing attitudes and roles of missionaries in such radically different environments as America and China, and the equally varied ways in which this activity was received, with the many problems of accomodation and sycretism. Topics covered include the development of new institutions to control missionary activity, notably the Roman Propaganda Fidei, tensions around race and the role of women, and the stimulus given, for instance to linguistic studies, by the need to communicate. Finally, they examine the belated awakening of the Protestant churches to the need to compete with Rome in the evangelization of the world.

    Contents: Introduction; Aux origines de la ’Congrégation’ indienne de l'Ordre des Frères prêcheurs (1546-1580), Charles-Martial de Witte; Antonio Possevino's plan for world evangelization, John Patrick Donnelly; The sacred congregation de Propaganda Fide: its foundation and historical antecedents, Joseph A. Griffin; 'Maximum illud': on the propagation of the Faith throughout the world (Apostolic letter, November 20th 1919), Benedict XV; Prophet and apostle: Bartolomé de las Casas and the spiritual conquest of America, David Brading; Pre-Baptismal instruction and the administration of Baptism in the Philippines during the 16th century, John Leddy Phelan; A note on Portuguese missionary methods in the east: 16th-18th centuries, C. R. Boxer; The problem of the native clergy in the Portuguese and Spanish empires from the16th to 18th centuries, C. R. Boxer; The Guaraní missions and the segregation policy of the Spanish crown, Magnus Mörner; Sinological torque: the influence of cultural preoccupations on 17th-century missionary interpretations of Confucianism, David E. Mungello; The development of an African Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Kongo, 1491-1750, John Thornton; European impact on the California Indians, 1530-1830, Harry Kelsey; From Tupã to the land without evil: the Christianization of Tupi-Guarani cosmology, Judith Shapiro; The missionary attitude of the philosopher G. W. von Leibniz, Francis R. Merkel; The earliest Protestant missionary venture in Latin America, G. Baez-Camargo; Pietist and Puritan sources of early Protestant world missions (Cotton Mather and A. H. Francke), Ernst Benz; Were Indian conversions Bona fide ? James Axtell; Index.

    Biography

    J. S. Cummins

    'European and Non-European Societies and Christianity and Missions along with the other volumes in An Expanding World should become a standard collection for any academic library. The invaluable bibliography, the variety of themes, and the historical problems will engage students of all levels, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral, in many aspects of early modern and world history for years to come.' Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. XXX, No. 1