Introduction
The processes of Christianization and decolonization of the African continent are controversial topics for discussion in the academic community to this day. Another critical question remains whether Christian ideology and biblical philosophy affected the formation of African liberation movements. John Stuart tries to investigate the theological influence of Protestant and Anglican missionaries on various social and political processes in British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64 impartially. The purpose of this book review is not only to give a summary of Stuart’s book but also to analyze its various points from a structural perspective.
Summary
John Stuart explores the topic of Christian missionary work in Africa in the mid-twentieth century. To be more precise, the author analyzes the activities of the Protestant, Anglican, and Scottish churches (Stuart 2011). The period for the narrative is around twenty-five years, beginning in 1939 and ending in 1964 (Stuart 2011). The author focuses mostly on the internal and external social and political processes of the countries of South Africa, such as Bechuanaland, Kenya, and Rhodesia. Stuart (2011) pays attention to the different relationships of the London Missionary Community (LMC), the UK government, and local African churches and Christian movements. The work also examines the political influence of African nationalist movements on apartheid states.
Taking into consideration the fundamental topics of the book, there are three broad narratives that are separated by significant political events. These key plot milestones are the introduction of a color bar policy in South Africa in 1939, the creation of the Central African Federation in 1953, and the Mau Mau Uprising in the fifties (Stuart 2011). John Stewart most thoroughly analyzes the case of the interracial marriage of the prince Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams, paying attention to both the domestic political situation and the foreign reaction (Stuart 2011). The author also notes that Scottish missionary efforts attempted to resolve South African national issues from a local perspective, while the Anglican mission was strictly subordinate to Great Britain.
Analysis
Christian philosophy in British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64
Through the narrative, the author invites readers to look at some major concepts and ideas. One of the key concepts is a Christian perspective on what is happening around the event (Stuart 2011). Stuart argues that missionaries often acted on a situational basis, sometimes arguing back the norms of the Church of England (Stuart 2011). This concept has two points of view, namely the Scottish and Anglican missions.
Christian Missionary Contribution in British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64
The author asks what political and social role missionary played in South Africa nations’ gaining independence. He notes that although their influence was direct, it was of little importance to the ongoing events (Stuart 2011). However, Stewart states that missionaries have contributed significantly to processes such as urbanization and secularization (Stuart 2011). The most significant contribution of the British Christian missions is the formation of an independent African Church.
Another important question is whether Anglican missionary work can be considered as the spark that gave rise to African nationalism in apartheid states. In the course of the story, the author repeatedly mentions that many future leaders of African nations had a Christian missionary education (Stuart 2011). These data are reliable because, while writing the book, Stuart investigated the Mission Agencies archives (Stuart 2011). The author makes readers think about the parallels between the collapse of the Roman and British empires.
Pre-World War II and Post-World War II Missionary in British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64
John Stuart contrasts the pre-war missionary goal with the post-war paradigm of the Protestant church in South Africa. He notes that at the beginning of the twentieth century, the missionaries’ primary objective was to establish and propagate imperial rule (Stuart 2011). Then, in the middle of the century, churchmen were narrowly focused on the Christian theological aspect (Stuart 2011). Consequently, the British metropolis represents an old empire, while local peripheral missionaries are a metaphor for post-war politics.
Conclusion
This work reviews John Stuart’s British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa, 1939-64. The review has a brief description of the book and an analysis of key ideas and concepts that the author puts forward. The author comprehensively and objectively examines the activities and influence of Protestant, Anglican, and Scottish missionary work in the countries of South Africa. It is worth noting that the book covers a very long period of twenty-five years. This period can be described as a growing conflict between apartheid states and African nationalist movements. The author of the review highlights such an author’s concepts as the Christian perspective, the contribution of missionary work, and the dilemma of pre-war and post-war missionary paradigms.
References
Stuart, J. (2011). British Missionaries and the End of Empire: East, Central, and Southern Africa. Eerdmans Publishing.