| Women and Missions: Past and Present: Anthropological and Historical Perceptions Contributor(s): Ardener, Shirley (Editor), Bowie, Fiona (Editor), Kirkwood, Deborah (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0854967389 ISBN-13: 9780854967384 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $161.50 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: January 1994 Annotation: This collection of essays by eminent anthropologists, missiologists and historians explores the hitherto neglected topic of women missionaries and the effect of Christian missionary activity upon women. The book consists of two parts. The first part looks at nineteenth-century women missionaries as presented in literature, at the backgrounds and experience of women in the mission field and at the attitudes of missionary societies towards their female workers. The fascinating debates are very relevant to the ordination of women issue of today. Although they are traditionally presented as wives and support workers, it becomes apparent that, on the contrary, women missionaries often played a culturally important role. The second and longer section asks whether women missionaries are indeed a special case, and provides some fascinating studies from both historical and contemporary material of the impact of Christian missions on women. Of particular value is the perspective of those who were themselves objects of missionary activity and who reflected upon this experience. Women actively absorbed and adapted the teachings of the Christian missionaries, and Western models are seen to be utilised and developed in sometimes unexpected ways. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Christian Church - General - Religion | Christian Living - Spiritual Growth - Religion | Christian Ministry - Evangelism |
| Dewey: 269.208 |
| LCCN: 92015997 |
| Series: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Women (Hardcover) |
| Physical Information: 0.84" H x 5.72" W x 8.78" (1.10 lbs) 302 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This collection of essays by eminent anthropologists, missiologists and historians explores the hitherto neglected topic of women missionaries and the effect of Christian missionary activity upon women. The book consists of two parts. The first part looks at 19th century women missionaries as presented in literature, at the backgrounds and experience of women in the mission field and at the attitudes of missionary societies towards their female workers. Although they are traditionally presented as wives and support workers, it becomes apparent that, on the contrary, women missionaries often played a culturally important role. The second and longest section asks whether women missionaries are indeed a special case, and provides some fascinating studies of the impact of Christian missions on women in both historical material and a wealth of contemporary material.Of particular value is the perspective of those who were themselves objects of missionary activity and who reflected upon this experience. Women actively absorbed and adapted the teachings of the Christian missionaries, and Western models are seen to be utilized and developed in sometimes unexpected ways. |
Contributor Bio(s): Kirkwood, Deborah: - Deborah Kirkwood is an Independent Researcher. Bowie, Fiona: -Fiona Bowie is a Lecturer in Women's Studies, at the Open University anda Lecturer in the Anthropology of Religion, at the University of Wales, Lampeter. |