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From MissionTerritories to Young Churches

TRS 728F

Dr. Jacques Gres-Gayer

W. 9:10:11:40

Calendar Spring 2009

January 14Mission Theory: History, Ethnology, Theology

January 21History of Missions 1: Discovering the World (1453-1563)

January 28History of Missions 2: Propagation of the Church (1563-1800)

February 4Thematic Research (Early Modern Times)

February 11Case study 1: Africa and Latin America (Spanish and Portughese)

February 18Case study 2: North America (Spanish and French)

February 25Case study 3: IndiaChina (Jesuits and Dominicans)

March 11Practical Analysis: Cultural Issues

Theoretical Analysis: A Theology of Mission

March 18Modern Mission Theory: History, Ethnology, Theology

March 25Case study 1: Africa (French, Belgian, Anglo-Saxon)

April 1Case study 2: Latin America

April 8Case study 3: The East: India, China, the Philipines

April 15Practical & Cultural analysis: Emergence of New Churches

April 22From Ad Gentes to the present situation: Mission Theologies

April 29From Ad Gentes to the present situation: The future of Missions?

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Object: An historical reflection on the worldwide expansion of the Catholic Church in the last five centuries. It takes into account new ethnological perspectives: how non-European cultures were presented the Christian message and related to it; how Europeans perceived these cultures and attempted to integrate them into their “Christian Civilization”. It also attempts to confront these analysis with the constant theological tradition of Catholicism, that was eventually restated at Vatican II and is still being developped.

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Method: a confrontation between theory and practice based on selected case studies, intending to identify convergences, tensions and oppositions between the two approaches.

Goal: the final goal is to articulate a Theology of Mission based on historical evidence and theological interpretation of that evidence, that illustrates and nuances Vatican II theory.

Requirements: Class preparation and participation. Two full presentations. Final report.

Bibliography

General

K. S. Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, New York, 19371945.

S. Neil, A History of Christian Missions. London, 1965.

S. Delacroix, ed., Histoire universelle des Missions catholiques.

Vol. II. Les Missions modernes. Paris, 1957.

vol. III. Les Missions contemporaines, 18001957. Paris, 1957.

J. O'Malley, Catholicism in Early Modern History: A Guide to Research, Saint Louis, 1988, 193-210.

J. Delumeau, Catholicism Between Luther and Voltaire, London, Philadelphia, 1977, 60-95..

Mission Theory and Ethnology

H.Frohnes, “Critical Analysis of Mission,” Concilium 134 (1978)

Africa

A. Hastings, The Church in Africa, Oxford, 1994,

China

H. Bernard-Maître, "The Chinese and Malabar Rites," Concilium 27 (1967).87-169.

C. E. Ronan & B. B. C. Oh, East Meets West: The Jesuits in China, 1582-1773, Chicago, 1988, p.3-102.

J. Gernet, Chine et Christianisme. Action et réaction, Paris, 1982. [E.T.] China and the Christian Input, Cambridge, 1982,

D. E. Mungello, ed., The Chinese Rites Controversy. Its History and Meaning, Nettetal, 1994.

India

C.S. Neill, A History of Christianity in India, Cambridge, 1985.

Latin America

Historia de la Iglesia en America,

E. Ricard, The Spiritual Conquest of Mexico, Berkeley, 1966.

Ph. Caraman, The Lost Paradise. The JesuitRepublic in South America. New York, 1976.

North America

J. Axtell, Beyond 1492: Encounters in Colonial North America, Oxford, 1992.

J. Axtell, The Invasion Within. The Context