Guns and Gospel PB
Imperialism and Evangelism in China
Format:Paperback
Publisher:James Clarke & Co Ltd
Published:29th Nov '16
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
This book provides an insightful examination of Christian missionary work in China, exploring its ties to European imperialism and cultural tensions. Guns and Gospel PB delves into key figures and their legacies.
In Guns and Gospel PB, readers are taken on a deep dive into the complex history of Christian missionary work in China, particularly during the tumultuous nineteenth century. This period was marked by intense competition among missionaries who believed they were saving souls, yet they often found themselves entangled in the web of European imperialism. The book highlights the tensions that arose from Western gunboat diplomacy, unequal treaties, and the missionaries' own biases, which frequently led to increased hostility towards Christianity in China. The phrase 'One more Christian, one less Chinese' encapsulates the sentiment that many Chinese felt towards these foreign influences.
Ambrose Mong skillfully examines the accusations of 'cultural imperialism' that have been directed at missionaries, exploring their complicated relationships with the opium trade and British imperialism. Through the stories of prominent missionaries such as Robert Morrison, Charles Gützlaff, James Hudson Taylor, and Timothy Richard, the author reveals the factors that contributed to the successes and failures of these individuals in their mission work. The narrative raises critical questions about the missionaries' roles and whether they inadvertently became instruments of imperialist agendas.
Guns and Gospel PB not only sheds light on the historical context of missionary efforts but also prompts readers to reflect on the broader implications of cultural exchange and the legacy of foreign intervention in China. It is a thought-provoking exploration of faith, power, and the often fraught intersection of religion and imperialism.
"Ambrose Mong, S.J., offers readers a nuanced interpretation of the Protestant experience in China, from the days of the earliest missionaries to the present day. Concentrating on 19th century missionary personalities, his theme is the interaction between imperialism and evangelism. He clearly shows how the ambivalent connection between Christianity and the Western incursion into China time and again presented obstacles to the spread of the gospel. Guns and Gospel should be read by all who are interested in the early history of Protestant Christianity in China, and its continuing impact on the church today." - Philip L. Wickeri, Professor of Church History, Ming Hua Theological College, Hong Kong "Guns and Gospel is a fine synthesis that investigates the symbiosis between Christianization and Western imperialism. ... [It] is an essential reading for anyone interested in Chinese Christianity, interreligious dialogues, and cross-cultural engagements." - Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, Department of History, Pace University (New York), due to be published in Ching Feng "Ambrose Mong provides a valuable insight into the historical background of Chinese attitudes to Christian mission in China. In a wide-ranging study, Mong sheds light on why Christianity is still a minority religion in China. ... The contents of this book are especially important for Western Christians seeking to understand China." - Trish Madigan, The Swag: Quarterly Magazine of the National Council of Priests of Australia "This book is useful in stimulating interest in mission and cultural studies, even studies in contextual theology, particularly the popular topic of Asian theology." - Jihe Gaius Song, The Expository Times, Volume 129, Number 3, December 2017 "By outlining the Chinese mission history, Mong draws attention to both global and local forces that influenced the passions, visions, and actions of different Protextant missions, the missionaries' perception of China as 'the Other', and the dissemination of Christianity in a Chinese context .... Guns and Gospel is an essential reading for anyoen interested in Chinese Christianity, interreligious dialogues, and cross-cutural engagements." - Joseph Tse-hei Lee, Ching Feng, 16.1-2 (2016) "Guns and Gospel is a sophisticated overview of the work of Christian missionaries in China, and in its pages we see a range of human motivation ranging from rapaciousness to charity." James Carter, Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2018. "Mong has made great efforts to show the personalities of the above-mentioned Protestant missionaries and pinpoint their ambigous roles in imperialism and evangelism." Wai-Yin Christian Wong, Journal of Chinese Religions, Volume 46, Issue 1, May 10 2018 'This is a valuable volume on this subject and should be on the reading lists for this topic.' STUART VOGEL, Auckland, New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies, vol.20, no1. 2018, pp.109-11
ISBN: 9780227176252
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 319g
200 pages