There are two views among scholars about the origin of Christianity in India. According to one, the foundation of the Christian church in India was laid by Saint Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus. The other view would ascribe the arrival of Christianity in India to the enterprise of Christian merchants and missionaries belonging to the East Syrian and Persian churches. But it has been widely believed that India was St. Thomas’ sphere of work. As Cardinal Tisserant says there was a very ancient evangelization started by St. Thomas, the Apostle and mainly in South India.
The Charter act of 1833 approved the permanent presence of missionaries in India and made provision for Anglican hierarchy at Calcutta. With the expansion of the British Empire missionaries began to arrive and Christianity began to spread by establishing dioceses at Madras and Bombay. Ever since there existed a renewed cooperation between the missionaries and the colonial power in helping one another in their missions.
By the end of the eighteenth century a new wave of the spirit of evangelization permeated Protestant Churches. In 1792 the English Baptists organised the first Anglican mission Baptist Missionary Society.
Later Protestant missionary operations were undertaken on a large scale by LMS ( London missionary society) and CMS ( Church mission society). Alongside the older societies there have come into the field a bewildering number of missionary organisations. The characteristic feature of nineteenth century missions was the enthusiasm for the multiplication of missionary efforts. The priority of the colonial missions was conversion. Conversion of individual souls was considered the sole end of mission. To a European missionary non-Christian religions and Eastern cultures were non-slavific and that Christianity alone would redeem them. The British rule had provided favourable Atmosphere and necessary Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE for the missions to work even in the remotest mountain villages without confronting much opposition. Julius Richter says that, it would be hard to find any land possessing so great an attraction for the missionary societies.
After the Charter of 1833 was renewed, missionaries were allowed freely to come to India. Missionary teams became powerful and their style of work changed. By this time a new set of missionaries rooted in ‘the iconoclastic zeal of extreme Protestantism’43 began to arrive. These missionaries, soon through letters, reports and stories, created a very distorted image about the people and culture in India. They were imbued with the western ‘imperial sentiments’ and the sense of cultural superiority and agreed with Charles Grant, the spokesman of the Evangelicals in England, that it was not any inborn weakness that made Hindu degenerate but the nature of their religion. For the evangelicals India was in darkness and would need the Light present in the western world.
The Evangelicals and other mission societies made a combined attempt to change the policy of the British Government and demanded the introduction of legal and social reforms in India. It was thus that William Bentick in March 1835 issued his resolution intended mainly to promote European literature and science and utilize funds mainly for English Education. The study of Indian Literature and oriental works was admitted to be of little intrinsic value and the opinion was that these literatures inculcate the most serious errors on the subjects. Also the customs and traditions and the religious beliefs of the subject people were considered by the missionary educators and their societies in England as a sign of depravity and futility. The remedy was the introduction of English education.
Alexander Duff, Scottish missionary and leading educator whose ideas can be considered representative of the majority of missionaries in the nineteenth century, thought that though Hindu philosophical discourse contained lofty terms in its religious vocabulary what they conveyed were only vain, foolish and wicked conceptions. According to Duff, Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism spread like a dark universe where all life dies and death lives. The Christian task for him was to do everything possible to demolish such a gigantic fabric of idolatry and superstition. Needless to say, such an Attitude prevented any positive encounter between Christianity and Indian culture. Duff, Buchanan, Trevelyan, Macaulay and others had great influence on the missionary thinking. The missionaries and civil servants who came to India were so prejudiced that they did not see anything good in India society.
The missionaries and their societies subscribed to the view that civilizing the Indian people would prepare the primitive religious people to embrace Christianity. Nineteenth century Protestant missiology could be understood against the background of Christianisation and civilizing as two sides of the same coin. Missions were unwilling to understand the complexities of Indian cultural variants. Deeply entrenched in them was a sense of superiority of European civilization and that coloured their approach to people of other cultures and religious faiths. The missions and colonial administrators asserted that Hinduism would die away soon and the whole nation could be civilized and Christianised. English education was a means towards this goal. That is to facilitate change from exterior to interior, from trade to religion, a cultural revolution for the betterment of the natives by disseminating knowledge of Christianity and make them loyal to the British The comment of Arthur Mayhew is worth mentioning: “The evangelical supporters of Anglican mission were far more interested in the dissemination of the Bible and baptismal statistics than in any measure for the general enlightenment of India”50. The primary interest of the Raj was to keep control over India. The dominant interest of missions was to work for the conversion of Indians to Christianity. But in the colonial situation they found themselves in need of one another and so mutual support was but natural.
Although the missionaries worked hard and suffered a lot for bringing education and awareness of social Justice to the people living in the rural areas of India, as they were associated with the colonialimperial powers, the significance of their selfless service was either overlooked or misunderstood.
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Missionary activities in India have a long and complex history. The first missionaries to arrive in India were from The Portuguese, who came in the 16th century. They were followed by missionaries from other European countries, such as the Dutch, French, and British. These missionaries were primarily interested in converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity.
In the 19th century, there was a new wave of missionary activity in India, this time from Protestant missionaries. These missionaries were more interested in social reform than in conversion. They established schools, hospitals, and other institutions to help the poor and needy.
Today, there are many different types of missionaries working in India. Some are affiliated with Christian churches, while others are independent. Some work in urban areas, while others work in rural areas. Some focus on evangelism, while others focus on social work.
There are many different methods of missionary work in India. Some missionaries focus on preaching and teaching. Others focus on providing social Services, such as education, healthcare, and disaster relief. Still others focus on interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
Missionary activities have had a significant impact on India. They have helped to spread Christianity, promote education, and improve the lives of many people. However, they have also been criticized for their role in colonialism and for their attempts to convert Hindus and Muslims to Christianity.
The future of missionary activities in India is uncertain. The number of missionaries in India has declined in recent years, and there is some evidence that the Indian government is becoming more hostile to missionary activity. However, there is also evidence that Christianity is growing in India, and it is possible that missionary activity will continue to play a role in the country’s future.
Here are some additional details on each of the subtopics:
History of missionary activities in India: The first missionaries to arrive in India were from the Portuguese, who came in the 16th century. They were followed by missionaries from other European countries, such as the Dutch, French, and British. These missionaries were primarily interested in converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity.
Types of missionaries in India: There are many different types of missionaries working in India. Some are affiliated with Christian churches, while others are independent. Some work in urban areas, while others work in rural areas. Some focus on evangelism, while others focus on social work.
Methods of missionary work in India: There are many different methods of missionary work in India. Some missionaries focus on preaching and teaching. Others focus on providing social services, such as education, healthcare, and disaster relief. Still others focus on interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
Impact of missionary activities in India: Missionary activities have had a significant impact on India. They have helped to spread Christianity, promote education, and improve the lives of many people. However, they have also been criticized for their role in colonialism and for their attempts to convert Hindus and Muslims to Christianity.
Criticism of missionary activities in India: Missionary activities have been criticized for a number of reasons. Some people argue that missionaries are trying to impose their religion on others. Others argue that missionaries are involved in unethical practices, such as conversion by force or fraud. Still others argue that missionaries are a threat to Indian culture and society.
Future of missionary activities in India: The future of missionary activities in India is uncertain. The number of missionaries in India has declined in recent years, and there is some evidence that the Indian government is becoming more hostile to missionary activity. However, there is also evidence that Christianity is growing in India, and it is possible that missionary activity will continue to play a role in the country’s future.
What is missionary work?
Missionary work is the activity of a person or organization that is trying to convert people to a particular religion.
What are the different types of missionary work?
There are many different types of missionary work, but some of the most common include:
Preaching: This involves sharing the teachings of a religion with others.
Teaching: This involves teaching others about the beliefs and practices of a religion.
Social work: This involves providing assistance to people in need, such as food, shelter, and medical care.
Evangelism: This involves trying to convert people to a particular religion.
What are the goals of missionary work?
The goals of missionary work vary depending on the religion and the organization involved. However, some common goals include:
To spread the word of God.
To convert people to a particular religion.
To provide assistance to people in need.
To promote peace and understanding.
What are the challenges of missionary work?
Missionary work can be challenging for a number of reasons. Some of the challenges include:
Language barriers: Missionaries may need to learn a new language in order to communicate with the people they are trying to reach.
Cultural differences: Missionaries may need to adapt to a new culture in order to be effective.
Opposition from local people: Missionaries may face opposition from local people who do not share their beliefs.
Financial challenges: Missionary work can be expensive, and missionaries may need to raise funds in order to support their work.
What are the benefits of missionary work?
Missionary work can have a number of benefits, both for the missionaries themselves and for the people they are trying to reach. Some of the benefits include:
The opportunity to share the love of God with others.
The opportunity to help people in need.
The opportunity to learn about new cultures.
The opportunity to grow in faith.
What are the risks of missionary work?
Missionary work can also be risky. Some of the risks include:
Physical danger: Missionaries may be at risk of physical harm from local people who do not share their beliefs.
Psychological danger: Missionaries may experience Stress, anxiety, and depression as a result of the challenges of missionary work.
Spiritual danger: Missionaries may be tempted to compromise their beliefs in order to be accepted by local people.
What is the future of missionary work?
The future of missionary work is uncertain. However, there are a number of factors that could impact the future of missionary work, including:
The rise of Secularism-2/”>Secularism: Secularism is the belief that religion should not play a role in public life. This could make it more difficult for missionaries to share their beliefs with others.
The rise of religious fundamentalism: Religious fundamentalism is a belief in the literal interpretation of religious texts. This could lead to increased conflict between religious groups, which could make it more dangerous for missionaries to work in some parts of the world.
The rise of the Internet: The internet has made it easier for people to connect with others from all over the world. This could make it easier for missionaries to reach people who would not otherwise have access to their message.
What is your opinion on missionary work?
I believe that missionary work can be a positive force in the world. Missionaries can help to spread the word of God, provide assistance to people in need, and promote peace and understanding. However, I also believe that missionary work can be challenging and risky. Missionaries should be aware of the challenges and risks before they embark on missionary work.
Sure, here are some MCQs on the following topics:
The first Europeans to arrive in India were the Portuguese.
The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch, the French, and the British.
The British East India Company was founded in 1600.
The British East India Company established trading posts in India.
The British East India Company gradually took control of more and more of India.
The British East India Company ruled India from 1757 to 1857.
The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India.
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 led to the end of British East India Company rule in India.
The British government took direct control of India in 1858.
India gained independence from Britain in 1947.
Which of the following is not a European country that had colonies in India? (A) Portugal (B) Spain (C) France (D) Britain
The British East India Company was founded in which year? (A) 1600 (B) 1650 (C) 1700 (D) 1750
The British East India Company established trading posts in which of the following cities? (A) Mumbai (B) Chennai (C) Kolkata (D) All of the above
The British East India Company gradually took control of more and more of India from which year to which year? (A) 1757 to 1857 (B) 1800 to 1850 (C) 1850 to 1900 (D) 1900 to 1950
The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India. Which of the following is not a reason for the rebellion? (A) The British East India Company was recruiting Indian soldiers to fight in wars against other European powers. (B) The British East India Company was forcing Indian soldiers to use cartridges that were greased with animal fat, which was offensive to both Hindus and Muslims. (C) The British East India Company was imposing high taxes on the Indian people. (D) The British East India Company was interfering in Indian religious and cultural practices.
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 led to which of the following? (A) The end of British East India Company rule in India. (B) The British government taking direct control of India. (C) The establishment of the Indian National Congress. (D) All of the above.
The British government took direct control of India in which year? (A) 1858 (B) 1877 (C) 1900 (D) 1947
India gained independence from Britain in which year? (A) 1947 (B) 1950 (C) 1960 (D) 1970