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Blackwell Brief Histories of Religion
Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion
Exploring how Christianity became a world religion, this brief history examines Christian missions and their relationship to the current globalization of Christianity.
A short and enlightening history of Christian missions: a phenomenon that many say reflects the single most important intercultural movement over a sustained period of human history Offers a thematic overview that takes into account the political, cultural, social, and theological issues Discusses the significance of missions to the globalization of Christianity, and broadens our understanding of Christianity as a multicultural world religion Helps Western audiences understand the meaning of mission as a historical process Contains several new maps that illustrate demographic shifts in world Christianity
A short and enlightening history of Christian missions: a phenomenon that many say reflects the single most important intercultural movement over a sustained period of human history Offers a thematic overview that takes into account the political, cultural, social, and theological issues Discusses the significance of missions to the globalization of Christianity, and broadens our understanding of Christianity as a multicultural world religion Helps Western audiences understand the meaning of mission as a historical process Contains several new maps that illustrate demographic shifts in world Christianity
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
40 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Dana L. Robert
19 books6 followersMission history, the history of world Christianity, and mission theology intersect in the research and teaching interests of Dana L. Robert. She is the Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission. At Boston University she has directed over sixty doctoral dissertations, and former students hold teaching and ministry positions around the world. In 2011 she delivered a keynote address at the Global Christian Forum in Manado, Indonesia. In 2010 she delivered the Alexander Duff and the Henry Drummond Lectures in Scotland, the opening keynote lecture at the historic Edinburgh 2010 conference, and the Henry Martyn Lectures at Cambridge University. Her most recent books are Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), now in its sixth printing; and Converting Colonialism: Visions and Realities in Mission History, 1706-1914 (editor, Eerdmans 2008). She wrote the study Joy to the World!: Mission in the Age of Global Christianity for the 2010-2011 summer schools of mission for The United Methodist Church. With M.L. Daneel, she edits the book series “African Initiatives in Christian Mission” (University of South Africa Press). Robert received her BA from Louisiana State University and her PhD from Yale University.
http://www.bu.edu/cgcm/about-us/dana-...
http://www.bu.edu/cgcm/about-us/dana-...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 9, 2020
Just awful.
This was assigned for my Missions and the Local Church class at Bethlehem Seminary. Our professor apparently had the author for his academic advisor, he defended the book by explaining that she intended it as a book that would be assigned in a secular upper-level class and that she was trying to make Christian Missions palatable for a non-Christian. The problem with this strategy is that Christian Missions will never be acceptable to a secular audience. Imagining myself reading this in my pre-converted days, I could see steam coming out my new ager ears. The author argued and tried to demonstrate that Missions have been a largely feminist undertaking through most of Church history, but I could imagine my objection, "Yeah, but they're still telling people that their religious beliefs are wrong! That is the worst possible thing you could do!"
Now, as a Christian, the book is equally offensive for opposite reasons. The thesis could be stated another way: "Christian Missions are only okay in-so-far as they produce a result that agrees with the current Leftist orthodoxies." She saves her most vicious rhetoric for Christians and Christendom, and carefully choose her words when talking about other cultures, for example, she referred to the Hindu practice of burning widows on their husband's funeral pyre as, "humiliating widowhood rituals." Cool cool. She also makes wild feminist claims, for example, saying that Lydia and other early widow patrons of the Church were "church leaders," "Women played a prominent role as patrons of the movement that gained a reputation for female leadership and strict personal ethical codes." Uh, source?
It was a terrible slog to get through.
This was assigned for my Missions and the Local Church class at Bethlehem Seminary. Our professor apparently had the author for his academic advisor, he defended the book by explaining that she intended it as a book that would be assigned in a secular upper-level class and that she was trying to make Christian Missions palatable for a non-Christian. The problem with this strategy is that Christian Missions will never be acceptable to a secular audience. Imagining myself reading this in my pre-converted days, I could see steam coming out my new ager ears. The author argued and tried to demonstrate that Missions have been a largely feminist undertaking through most of Church history, but I could imagine my objection, "Yeah, but they're still telling people that their religious beliefs are wrong! That is the worst possible thing you could do!"
Now, as a Christian, the book is equally offensive for opposite reasons. The thesis could be stated another way: "Christian Missions are only okay in-so-far as they produce a result that agrees with the current Leftist orthodoxies." She saves her most vicious rhetoric for Christians and Christendom, and carefully choose her words when talking about other cultures, for example, she referred to the Hindu practice of burning widows on their husband's funeral pyre as, "humiliating widowhood rituals." Cool cool. She also makes wild feminist claims, for example, saying that Lydia and other early widow patrons of the Church were "church leaders," "Women played a prominent role as patrons of the movement that gained a reputation for female leadership and strict personal ethical codes." Uh, source?
It was a terrible slog to get through.
November 10, 2023
Far from comprehensive, it is a very good overview of the missionary movement within Catholic and Protestant denominations. It covers a vast amount of time (2000 years) in less than two hundred pages. There is a chapter devoted to women's missionary work, however, race is somewhat left hanging in the analysis overall. Nonetheless, a solid starting point.
March 18, 2024
An insightful, brief history on Christian missions.
April 21, 2016
Dana Robert, as a historian, has taken a unique tack at understanding Christianity in its full global reality. Because it is such a diverse and widespread phenomenon, she suggests that a careful view towards the actual history of its growth and diversification provides important insight into what the thing itself is. “...by focusing on shifts in methods of communication and changes in sociopolitical contexts...Christianity becomes interesting as a catalyst for new identity-formation rather than as a fixed institution.” This expansion, especially as it crosses unlikely borders, Robert describes in the traditional language of “Christian mission,” and thus the title. The key portion of Dr. Robert’s thesis is that “the universal vision transforms the local, and the local brings personal meaning to the universal.” That is, all that can be said concerning Christianity impacts cross cross cultural mission work, and that cross cultural mission work feeds back into Christianity as it encounters new manifestations.
January 31, 2018
When I was in undergrad I saw there was a sociology course offered on "Technology and Society." At the time I thought that sounded incredibly boring but after reading Neil Postman, Jacques Ellul, and Albert Borgman I came to regret not taking that class - technology is pervasive and has radically shaped our culture, especially in the modern digital age where the Internet connects us to others and provides us with a wealth of information.
When I first arrived at Regent College I became aware that there was the option to focus on World Christianity but I thought THAT sounded incredibly boring. However, since then I've become fascinated with the global spread of Christianity, particularly after reading R.D. Woodberry's excellent article "The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy."
Dana L. Robert's "Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion," has only increased my fascination and appreciation for Christianity's global dispersion. Robert divides her book into two sections, the first being "The Making of a World Religion" which traces the history of Christian mission from the early Church to the present day; the second part deals with selected topics in Christian mission such as "the politics of mission" (where Robert addresses the contentious debate over whether missionaries were henchmen of Western cultural and colonial imperialism or sincere evangelists fulfilling the Great Commission) and the role of women as caretakers, healers, and religious workers (those both celibate and those who were married to missionaries or clergymen; Robert does well to note that it was the distinctly PROTESTANT missionary family that helped to model and demonstrate to indigenous peoples how a Christian family ought to live and act, p. 46-47, 130).
Robert provides a powerful apologetic for Christian mission, noting that missionaries helped bring the best of modernization to North America and the Global South while often opposing Western colonial regimes that oppressed indigenous people (Robert critiques Christian organizations if she believes they erred, but also asserts that missionaries were thwarted in their calls for reform by the colonial socioeconomic system that was in place, p.101). Robert states that "the emergence of what today are called 'human rights' is directly related to the often ineffective attempts of missionaries to act as a buffer between governments or abusive social systems, and the people among whom they lived" (p. 99). Christian mission has always involved the translation of the Christian message into other cultures, though there have been divergences on how this is to be done best; Roman Catholicism prefers "inculturation" whereas Protestantism opts for "vernacularization" (p. 21, 35-38). The best Christian missionaries have taken the time and effort to learn about the culture they are in and to identify with it. Indigenous Christians themselves have often taken leading roles in ministry and been vital partners in the evangelism process; in fact, Robert asserts that indigenous Christians had a much deeper impact than western missionaries themselves (p.49, 94-95). Missionaries spread not only the Gospel but also education and the very Western ideals and values by which indigenous people would eventually challenge their colonial authorities (p. 50, 52). Missionaries were also crucial in relaying information of the wider world back to Europe itself and in publicizing the mistreatment and abuse of indigenous peoples by colonial authorities (p. 43, 100). Robert notes that during the first half of the twentieth century Roman Catholic missionary efforts were revitalized and the Second Vatican Council affirmed the place of lay Catholic missionaries (p. 114). In the centuries preceding Vatican II, Roman Catholic missionary efforts had been stunted, especially of female religious due to Pope Boniface VIII's ruling in 1298 that forced them into enclosures which destroyed their ability to perform outreach work; this was particularly tragic as Christian women have proven among the most versatile missionaries since they can interact with both men, women, and children and indigenous mothers have often been the most strategic and key figure in the family to convert (p. 121, 128). Robert notes that globally-speaking, Christian women outnumber Christian men roughly 2:1 (p. 118). Though there has certainly been chauvinism, misogyny, and male suppression of women in Christianity, Robert insists that Christianity also brought moral rigour and stability to families and that Christian women have been able to attain positions of power, stating, "Women's education carried with it the potential not only for Christianizing the family and providing wives for local pastors, but for building strong women's leadership as part of the modernization process embraced by social progressives in the early twentieth century" (p. 137). Robert also points out that "The ideal of Christian motherhood has been used to empower women, and to underscore female domesticity - paradoxically, sometimes both at the same time" (p. 131).
Robert has written a rich and persuasive introduction to the history of Christian mission. At a time when many people look to the Christian Church's past and only see repression and tyranny, Robert shows that, in fact, Christian missionaries conveyed not only the Gospel, but also Western ideals and practices such as education, the latest technological and scientific discoveries, and women's rights to the rest of the world and that indigenous peoples themselves often took on the responsibility for evangelizing their neighbours and discipling believers. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
When I first arrived at Regent College I became aware that there was the option to focus on World Christianity but I thought THAT sounded incredibly boring. However, since then I've become fascinated with the global spread of Christianity, particularly after reading R.D. Woodberry's excellent article "The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy."
Dana L. Robert's "Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion," has only increased my fascination and appreciation for Christianity's global dispersion. Robert divides her book into two sections, the first being "The Making of a World Religion" which traces the history of Christian mission from the early Church to the present day; the second part deals with selected topics in Christian mission such as "the politics of mission" (where Robert addresses the contentious debate over whether missionaries were henchmen of Western cultural and colonial imperialism or sincere evangelists fulfilling the Great Commission) and the role of women as caretakers, healers, and religious workers (those both celibate and those who were married to missionaries or clergymen; Robert does well to note that it was the distinctly PROTESTANT missionary family that helped to model and demonstrate to indigenous peoples how a Christian family ought to live and act, p. 46-47, 130).
Robert provides a powerful apologetic for Christian mission, noting that missionaries helped bring the best of modernization to North America and the Global South while often opposing Western colonial regimes that oppressed indigenous people (Robert critiques Christian organizations if she believes they erred, but also asserts that missionaries were thwarted in their calls for reform by the colonial socioeconomic system that was in place, p.101). Robert states that "the emergence of what today are called 'human rights' is directly related to the often ineffective attempts of missionaries to act as a buffer between governments or abusive social systems, and the people among whom they lived" (p. 99). Christian mission has always involved the translation of the Christian message into other cultures, though there have been divergences on how this is to be done best; Roman Catholicism prefers "inculturation" whereas Protestantism opts for "vernacularization" (p. 21, 35-38). The best Christian missionaries have taken the time and effort to learn about the culture they are in and to identify with it. Indigenous Christians themselves have often taken leading roles in ministry and been vital partners in the evangelism process; in fact, Robert asserts that indigenous Christians had a much deeper impact than western missionaries themselves (p.49, 94-95). Missionaries spread not only the Gospel but also education and the very Western ideals and values by which indigenous people would eventually challenge their colonial authorities (p. 50, 52). Missionaries were also crucial in relaying information of the wider world back to Europe itself and in publicizing the mistreatment and abuse of indigenous peoples by colonial authorities (p. 43, 100). Robert notes that during the first half of the twentieth century Roman Catholic missionary efforts were revitalized and the Second Vatican Council affirmed the place of lay Catholic missionaries (p. 114). In the centuries preceding Vatican II, Roman Catholic missionary efforts had been stunted, especially of female religious due to Pope Boniface VIII's ruling in 1298 that forced them into enclosures which destroyed their ability to perform outreach work; this was particularly tragic as Christian women have proven among the most versatile missionaries since they can interact with both men, women, and children and indigenous mothers have often been the most strategic and key figure in the family to convert (p. 121, 128). Robert notes that globally-speaking, Christian women outnumber Christian men roughly 2:1 (p. 118). Though there has certainly been chauvinism, misogyny, and male suppression of women in Christianity, Robert insists that Christianity also brought moral rigour and stability to families and that Christian women have been able to attain positions of power, stating, "Women's education carried with it the potential not only for Christianizing the family and providing wives for local pastors, but for building strong women's leadership as part of the modernization process embraced by social progressives in the early twentieth century" (p. 137). Robert also points out that "The ideal of Christian motherhood has been used to empower women, and to underscore female domesticity - paradoxically, sometimes both at the same time" (p. 131).
Robert has written a rich and persuasive introduction to the history of Christian mission. At a time when many people look to the Christian Church's past and only see repression and tyranny, Robert shows that, in fact, Christian missionaries conveyed not only the Gospel, but also Western ideals and practices such as education, the latest technological and scientific discoveries, and women's rights to the rest of the world and that indigenous peoples themselves often took on the responsibility for evangelizing their neighbours and discipling believers. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
February 20, 2019
Dana Robert does a very good job in developing the story that shows how Christianity became a world religion. She confronts the errors that sees the expansion of Christianity in the 19th century as an arm of European Colonialism. I also appreciated the attention given to missionary efforts and methods in the entire church history.
This is a realistic look at the church that had maybe 100,000 followers at the end of the first century, to the multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, and largest world religion. I would enjoy taking her principles and examining the other "world" religions to help us see the reason Christianity has been attractive to so many cultures through history.
This is a realistic look at the church that had maybe 100,000 followers at the end of the first century, to the multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, and largest world religion. I would enjoy taking her principles and examining the other "world" religions to help us see the reason Christianity has been attractive to so many cultures through history.
August 9, 2017
Great overview. Really recommend.
September 14, 2021
really enjoyed the read. lots of figures I had not known about. Enjoyed especially the section on women and their roles in global intercultural mission.
February 15, 2023
It reads like Christian Mission propaganda. It does not include concrete details of missionaries who blew it but presents critiques to hide the fact that it is so one sided.
December 11, 2025
Excellent history of how Christianity became a world religion. In particular, I appreciated her direct emphasis on the place of women, the morally complex nature of missions, the centrality of mission to Christianity, and the tension point of local verses outside influences. Critics will complain she is too positive in terms of missionary endeavors. I get the critique but would counter with how much is out there which only focuses on the negative, or disproportionately does so. I also took off a star as at times I found the reading hard to get through, but part of that is due to how dense it is.
April 5, 2013
This book is a very solid overview of the history of missions in Christianity. It appropriately criticizes Christians for their failings and appropriately celebrates their advancements. Though it is incredibly difficult to capture 2,000 of history into a book, Dana Robert did the best she could with the space that she had. Her information was thoroughly researched and was presented clearly.
My only criticism is that more footnotes/references would have been incredibly helpful. There were many instances where I thought, "I would like to read more about that..." and had no way of finding out where she got her information.
My only criticism is that more footnotes/references would have been incredibly helpful. There were many instances where I thought, "I would like to read more about that..." and had no way of finding out where she got her information.
June 18, 2016
Can I admit that I never understood how mission work with its social and political implications grew from the original goal of spreading the Gospel across cultures? Now I do. Dots connected.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews