Configurations and Prefigurations of Conversion in the History of World Christianity

Many contemporary understandings and implementations of conversion are prefigured in historical periods of world Christianity. In this paper, I consider a selection of historical moments, which together illustrate the broad variety of understandings and practices of conversion. I begin with conversi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mission studies
Main Author: Lienemann-Perrin, Christine 1946- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2017
In: Mission studies
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Europe / Near East / China / Africa / Conversion (Religion)
RelBib Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
KBA Western Europe
KBL Near East and North Africa
KBM Asia
KBN Sub-Saharan Africa
Further subjects:B Conversion world Christianity early Christianity oriental Christianity European denominationalism Chinese religions African Traditional Religions secularization
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:Many contemporary understandings and implementations of conversion are prefigured in historical periods of world Christianity. In this paper, I consider a selection of historical moments, which together illustrate the broad variety of understandings and practices of conversion. I begin with conversion’s role in the formation of Christianity, followed by conversion in oriental Christianity under the influence of Islam from the seventh century. I then explore conversion in occidental Christianity during the early modern period. Exported to China in the seventeenth century, this conception ultimately failed to translate into the Chinese context. After briefly considering this development, I turn to an understanding of conversion that emerged in African societies, which responded in their own ways to Western missions during late colonialism. Finally, I consider the nature of conversion, de-conversion and re-conversion in secularized societies.
ISSN:1573-3831
Contains:In: Mission studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15733831-12341481