Kathryn Edgerton-Tarpley

Encountering China

History & Biography

“Kaiser’s well-researched study of China missionary Timothy Richard challenges the conservative/liberal dichotomy frequently used to categorize missionaries, and deftly places Richard’s evolution as a missionary within late-Qing Chinese as well as Victorian Protestant contexts. His exploration of the nature of missionary adaptation in response to cross-cultural encounters results in fascinating discoveries, among them Richard’s willingness to borrow practices from Chinese religious sectarians to spread the gospel, and his use of Fulfillment Theology to support his call for more accommodating methods of evangelism in China.”