Guns and Gospel: Imperialism and Evangelism in China [Paperback]

An exploration of the history of Christian missionary work in China, and its often ambiguous and uneasy relationship with European imperialism.

During the nineteenth century, Christian missionaries vied for the Chinese souls they thought they were saving. But many things held them back: Western gunboat diplomacy, unequal treaties and their own prejudices, which increased hostility towards Christianity. 'One more Christian, one less Chinese,' has long been a popular clich? in China. Guns and Gospel examines the accusation of 'cultural imperialism' levelled against the missionaries and explores their complex and ambivalent relationships with the opium trade and British imperialism. Ambrose Mong follows key figures among the missionaries, such as Robert Morrison, Charles G?tzlaff, James Hudson Taylor and Timothy Richard, uncovering why some succeeded where others failed, and asks whether they really became lackeys to imperialism.GBAmbrose 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.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.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 ChrlCƒ