Stephen Neill (1900–1984)

A very complete, succint global history of Christian missions up to the 1980s. Feels dated today, because of facts it could hardly deal with, each for a different reason:
* takes an œcumenical approach, for instance to Romanist and Greek/Russian iconodulic missions;
* takes seriously liberation theory;
* ignores Reformed missionary activity in the XVI century;
* ignores the liberal destruction of mainstream European Christianity;
* predates the conservative resurgence, the Calvinistic show more renaissance, the global South and the revelation of the then-hidden, astonishing advance of Protestantism in China.

We still lack a more decidedly Reformed, even Evangelical, and more recent approach to the subject. show less

Why I read this work?

As I’m from Tamil Nadu, and specifically, Tirunelveli, a small town of million people. This work is of great interest to me.

Rasa Clarinda's Grave is famous in Tirunelveli. Although, most are unfamiliar with background story.

The most famous is Bishop Robert Caldwell, who is popular among minds of Tamil People.

If you don't know anything about Indian Christianity, this would give you a good outline of it.

Robert Frykenberg’s work and others on South Indian show more Christianity draws same sources.

Who is the author?

Apparently, he was an academic, missionary. This is his, Magnus Opus work, contribution to History of Indian Christianity.

An Erudite, Scholarly work on Indian Christianity. This work is pretty much what there is to know about Indian Christianity.

Although, contemporary Indian Christianity from 1950-Present is missing.

The Work contains 18 Chapters, runs about 600 pages. I tried to post an outline, but it’s long.

What I like about this work?

This work is thorough.

Stephen’s Neil’s writing is clear, precise, paragraphs are clearly organized.

The outline is well-organized with sub-headings. It makes it easy for the reader.

Who’d I recommend this to?

-Indian History
-South Indian History
-Christian History in India
-Missionaries
-Academics
-Tamil History

Narrative of Christianity:

The main narrative of Christianity is that the World is fallen, i.e wickedness, turmoil, relationship failures, wars, pain, suffering.

Most of the it stems from human heart i.e pride, envy, gluttony, and et all deadly sins, some unknown.

Jesus of Nazareth, lived among his creation, and took all this away from the world. He is the cure for change of human heart.

Deus Vult,
Gottfried show less

This book is comprised of five chapters: Why Missions?, What the Missionaries Did Wrong, What the Missionaries Did Right, Where Do We Go from Here?, and The Missionary of the Future. Reading if forty years later the most valuable sections are on what missionaries did right and wrong. The correctives that Neill calls for have largely been implemented and although things have changed a lot for both western and non-western churches these lessons are still pertinent for missions.

A History of Christian Missions traces the expansion of Christianity from its origins in the Middle East to Rome, the rest of Europe and the colonial world, and assesses its position as a major religious force worldwide. Many of the world’s religions have not actively sought converts, largely because they have been too regional in character. Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, however, are the three chief exceptions to this, and Christianity in particular has found a home in almost every show more country in the world. Professor Stephen Neill’s comprehensive and authoritative survey examines centuries of missionary activity, beginning with Christ and working through the Crusades and the colonization of Asia and Africa up to the present day, concluding with a shrewd look ahead to what the future may hold for the Christian Church. show less