I detta arbete syftar vi till att beskriva hur svenska missionärer bemötte afrikanerna och deras kultur i början på 1900-talet. Vår övergripande ambition är att identifiera vilka etiska och ideologiska strukturer som låg till grund för missionärernas bedömning av afrikanerna och deras samhällen. Studien är komparativ på så sätt att vi syftar till att jämföra missionärer från två olika missionsfält och missionsorganisationers syn på dessa frågor. Denna uppläggning möjliggör sedan en jämförelse mellan organisationerna, där vi kan identifiera både likheter och skillnader vad gäller dessa frågor. Slutligen kommer vi även att ta oss friheten att ge några mer personliga och hypotetiska förklaringar till missionärernas enhetliga alternativt disparata åsikter kring dessa aspekter. Vår huvudfrågeställningen är om man kan se likheter och skillnader mellan tidiga 1900-tals missionärer i deras inställning till afrikaner från olika kulturella och religiösa traditioner? Centralt är om vi kan spåra om och i så fall hur samtidens ideologiska idéer användes av missionärerna i deras försök att begripliggöra kulturmötet mellan afrikaner och européer. För att angripa följande problemområde har vi valt att använda en hermaneuetisk metod med inslag av fenomenografi. Konkret innebär det att vi har gått igenom missionärsbrev som presenteras i 1911 års upplaga av tidningen ”Missionsförbundet” och 1904-1906 års upplagor av EFS tidningsorgan ”Missionstidningen”. Vår studie visar att missionärerna från de skilda missionsorganisationerna i stort sett hade samstämmiga värderingar av afrikanerna. I huvudsak kan vi se att missionärerna använde fyra olika typer av ideologier för att, dels förklara behovet av mission bland afrikanerna, dels förklara afrikanernas mentalitet och samhällssystem. Missionärernas värderingssystem bestod av en sammanblandning av patrialkala, liberala (idealistiska), socialdarwinistiska, kulturimperialistiska, samt i EFS fall imperialistiska idéströmningar. Studien har emellertid inte påvisat att missionärerna skulle inta en tydligt rasistisk hållning gentemot afrikanerna, dock tycks missionärerna ha ett behov av att distansera sig från afrikanerna och på så sätt bygga upp vissa rasbarriärer mellan folkgrupperna. Dock menade man inte att afrikanerna var mindre värda för att de skulle representera en lägre ras, utan de nedvärderande kommentarerna till afrikanerna och deras samhällen hänvisas istället till deras religion. Det var nämligen den som var upphovet till afrikanernas låga utvecklingsnivå.

This study falls within the area of the Bible in African Christianity, particularly ordinary readers' appropriation of and interpretation of the Bible. It seeks to explore, firstly, the processes of the encounter between the Bible and the indigenous people of Tanzania, specifically the Gogo in central region. Secondly, this thesis seeks to identify some interpretative resources and emerging interpretative practices that have continued into the present of ordinary readers of the Bible. This exploration is done by tracing the mission activities of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Tanzania, which began in 1844. The work of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) is also examined, particularly the role it has played in making the Book "open" to the indigenous, through translation. Although there is continuity between past and present readings, this thesis demonstrates that ordinary readings are not static, they are dynamic; and over the years neo-indigenous interpretative moves have emerged which are a combination of both missionary and indigenous interpretative resources and methods. This reality is evident in the contemporary phenomenon of women and youths' songs in central Tanzania. These songs are creative interpretations of the Bible from an ordinary readers' perspective. There is a challenge to trained readers of the Bible to realise that biblical interpretation is not the preserve of the "professionals"; ordinary readers in the parishes, in cities, towns and villages, do interpret the Bible as well. To be relevant to the Tanzanian context, academic interpreters have to consciously take into account the resources and strategies of ordinary readers, which are demonstrated in their vernacular languages, oral narratives, religious experience, songs, proverbs and wise sayings. This will mean deeply understanding the local languages, Cigogo and others, listening to ordinary interpretations of the Bible, listening to the music and tunes of ordinary readers, as well as reading the vernacular Bible. Lastly, this study offers some suggestions for further research which, I hope, will bring refr study falls within the area of the Bible in African Christianity, particularly ordinary readers' appropriation of and interpretation of the Bible. It seeks to explore, firstly, the processes of the encounter between the Bible and the indigenous people of Tanzania, specifically the Gogo in central region. Secondly, this thesis seeks to identify some interpretative resources and emerging interpretative practices that have continued into the present of ordinary readers of the Bible. This exploration is done by tracing the mission activities of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Tanzania, which began in 1844. The work of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) is also examined, particularly the role it has played in making the Book "open" to the indigenous, through translation. Although there is continuity between past and present readings, this thesis demonstrates that ordinary readings are not static, they are dynamic; and over the years neo-indigenous interpretative moves have emerged which are a combination of both missionary and indigenous interpretative resources and methods. This reality is evident in the contemporary phenomenon of women and youths' songs in central Tanzania. These songs are creative interpretations of the Bible from an ordinary readers' perspective. There is a challenge to trained readers of the Bible to realise that biblical interpretation is not the preserve of the "professionals"; ordinary readers in the parishes, in cities, towns and villages, do interpret the Bible as well. To be relevant to the Tanzanian context, academic interpreters have to consciously take into account the resources and strategies of ordinary readers, which are demonstrated in their vernacular languages, oral narratives, religious experience, songs, proverbs and wise sayings. This will mean deeply understanding the local languages, Cigogo and others, listening to ordinary interpretations of the Bible, listening to the music and tunes of ordinary readers, as well as reading the vernacular Bible. Lastly, this study offers some suggestions for further research which, I hope, will bring refreshment and renewal to Tanzanian African biblical and theological scholarship. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

This thesis is an historical analysis of nineteenth century Protestant Christian mission in New Zealand, with a particular focus on religion and theology, and their role in shaping the perceptions of Church Missionary Society missionaries as they observed and related to Maori people and their culture between 1830 and 1860. It showcases theology as the primary paradigm in which missionaries understood and commented upon Maori, as opposed to other culturally received frameworks. It argues that historians have given too little attention to this theological paradigm and have therefore failed to grasp its significance for accurately portraying the missionary perspective on Maori culture. The significance of religious worldview is highlighted by an examination of the meaning and role of the Christianity-Civilization nexus in missionary thinking. The following pages explore the relationship between the two terms: why and how they were linked, both in general, and in a New Zealand-specific context. The arguments of this thesis are put forward through a close examination of CMS missionary documents, particularly letters and journals, as well as published source materials. This study highlights the moral and religious basis of CMS missionary notions of civilization, and emphasises their theological outlook as the most powerful factor that impacted on missionary ‘civilizing’ activities in New Zealand. It underscores the reality that missionaries were religious people and often viewed the world around them in a religious way. The implications of this fact mean that historians must give significant attention to the missionaries’ religious worldview in order to portray missionary perceptions of Christian mission, Maori people, culture and civilization in an accurate light. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1375331 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of History and Politics, 2009

This thesis is an historical analysis of nineteenth century Protestant Christian mission in New Zealand, with a particular focus on religion and theology, and their role in shaping the perceptions of Church Missionary Society missionaries as they observed and related to Maori people and their culture between 1830 and 1860. It showcases theology as the primary paradigm in which missionaries understood and commented upon Maori, as opposed to other culturally received frameworks. It argues that historians have given too little attention to this theological paradigm and have therefore failed to grasp its significance for accurately portraying the missionary perspective on Maori culture. The significance of religious worldview is highlighted by an examination of the meaning and role of the Christianity-Civilization nexus in missionary thinking. The following pages explore the relationship between the two terms: why and how they were linked, both in general, and in a New Zealand-specific context. The arguments of this thesis are put forward through a close examination of CMS missionary documents, particularly letters and journals, as well as published source materials. This study highlights the moral and religious basis of CMS missionary notions of civilization, and emphasises their theological outlook as the most powerful factor that impacted on missionary ‘civilizing’ activities in New Zealand. It underscores the reality that missionaries were religious people and often viewed the world around them in a religious way. The implications of this fact mean that historians must give significant attention to the missionaries’ religious worldview in order to portray missionary perceptions of Christian mission, Maori people, culture and civilization in an accurate light. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1375331 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of History and Politics, 2009

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 250-255).

Thesis (Ph. D. in Religion)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-196).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-148).

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Western Seminary, Portland, Or., 1997. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-200).