Post by Josh on Jan 10, 2014 21:56:21 GMT -8
There's a fascinating article in the latest Christianity Today entitled "The World the Missionaries Made" summarizing the work of sociologist Robert Woodberry. Here is his main, robust, thesis which is challenging stereotypical perceptions of missionaries effect on worldwide cultures:
Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.
There is also demonstrating a direct casual link between non-government funded, Protestant "conversionary" missionary work and the emergence of democracy instead of theocracy or dictatorship.
The article highlights many an overlooked missionary who rather than perpetrating colonial atrocities, actively stood against the abuses of colonial powers.
Of course, there have been horrible, abusive, and explotative missionaries, but Robertson's work makes it clear that there were far more missionaries who had a positive effect on the cultures they ministered to.