Conservative in Theology, Liberal in Spirit
Modernism and the American Presbyterian Mission in Thailand, 1891–1941
- Evangelism & Missions
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2024
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Publisher's Description
In the early twentieth century, theological modernism was gaining ground in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Conservatives claimed that there were modernists on the mission field but that the Board of Foreign Missions was doing nothing about it. In Thailand, the executive secretary of the American Presbyterian mission did not want to address the issue, claiming that "almost all of our Mission . . . are conservative in their theology, and liberal in their spirit." But was it true? In this book, Karl Dahlfred explores letters, reports, and other primary sources to reveal instances and indicators of modernism among Presbyterian missionaries in Thailand. Officially committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ, American Presbyterian missionaries were increasingly divided over what that meant, and how to carry out their task. Were schools or evangelism the best mode of Christian influence? Did the gospel need adjustment for the modern world? The mission formally maintained a conservative consensus, yet modernism was present. And fundamentalist-minded missionaries were not happy about it. Scholars, missionaries, Thai Christians, and anyone interested in mission history or the long-term trajectory of Protestant work in Thailand will enjoy this exploration of an overlooked chapter in the history of Christianity in Thailand.
Endorsements (4)
Foreword
“This fascinating book fills two major gaps. First, it directs attention to Thailand, a country neglected by mission historians. Second, it uncovers the ambiguities surrounding the concepts of modernism and modernization that figured prominently in missionary discourse.”
“Karl Dahlfred’s study of the effects of the fundamentalist-modernist controversy on missions in Thailand offers a fascinating example of what makes Christianity a world religion: its kinetic interaction across cultural borders. This book offers much more than its title suggests. It is a carefully wrought view of how engagement with Thai people affected Western missionaries.”
“Karl Dahlfred’s Conservative in Theology, Liberal in Spirit has admirably met the long felt need for a single volume book that shows how the church in Thailand evolved in the half century from 1890 to 1940. I recommend this book to all who want to understand the church in Thailand today.”
“With a missionary’s heart, a theologian’s mind, and a historian’s pen, Karl Dahlfred opens a window into the relationship between theological controversy and missiological methodology. He traces the effects of the early twentieth-century modernist controversy on the missionaries of Thailand and their theological formulation and cultural adaptation within the unique Thai context. A fascinating study.”
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