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The Jesuit Mission to New France
A New Interpretation in the Light of the Earlier Jesuit Experience in Japan
Series: - Studies in the History of Christian Traditions, Volume: 151
Author:
A new interpretation of the Jesuit mission to New France is here proposed by using, for comparison and contrast, the earlier Jesuit experience in Japan. In order to present revisionist perspectives of the Jesuit missions based on a broader international framework beyond North America, the existing historical paradigms of the Jesuit missionary activity to Amerindians based on the limited regional history of New France are re-examined. The time period of analysis covers one entire century, from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century. The Jesuit evangelists used in this analysis include European, mainly Iberian and French, missionaries. The non-European converts dealt with in this discussion are Japanese and Amerindian peoples. The aspects considered for revisions encompass the interpretations of foreign cultures, the basic evangelistic approach of preaching, winning converts and educating them, organising Christian communities and the non-European practice of the religion. The Christian mission in Japan has proved to be a useful tool for these purposes.
Takao Abé, PhD (University of Leeds, UK), Master of Arts (University of Manitoba, Canada), and Master of Letters (Keio University, Japan) is Professor and Head of the Department of English at 'Yamagata-Prefectural College at Yonezawa', Japan.
‘’This book was a delight to read and will be of great value to mission historians interested in the Jesuit Missions in Japan in the sixteenth century and the Amerindian Missions in Canada in the seventeenth century. In: fact, because of the methodology used and the issues raised it will be of interest to every mission historian of whatever period’’.
Larry Nemer, Dorish Maru College. In: Missiology: An international review, 40, 2, April 2012, p. 211.
Larry Nemer, Dorish Maru College. In: Missiology: An international review, 40, 2, April 2012, p. 211.
Introduction: Iberian and French Jesuits from an International Perspective
I. Review of Literature on the Jesuit Missions to Japan and New France
A. Historiography of the Jesuit Mission to Japan
B. Historiography of the Jesuit Mission to New France
C. Towards a Synthesis of Historiographies
II. Interpreting Non-Christian Cultures: Jesuit Biases
A. The Jesuit Interpretation of Japanese Culture
B. The French Jesuit Interpretation of Native Culture
C. Jesuit Biases in Interpreting Non-Christian Cultures
III. Preaching, Winning Converts and Educating Them: Evolving Multifaceted Strategies
A. Japan
B. New France
C. A New Paradigm for the Missionary Strategy in New France
IV. Organising a Mission for a Christian Community: Missionary Réductions Reconsidered
A. Prototypes for Amerindian Réductions
B. Comparison between Japan and Paraguay
C. The Réductions in New France in Comparison with the Paraguayan and Japanese Models
D. The International Evolution of Missionary Réductions
V. Accepting and Comprehending Christianity: Non-European Practice of the Religion
A. Problems of Historical Epistemology
B. The Japanese Acceptance and Comprehension of Christianity
C. The Amerindian Acceptance and Comprehension of Christianity
Conclusion: The French Jesuit Mission Revisited
APPENDICES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. Review of Literature on the Jesuit Missions to Japan and New France
A. Historiography of the Jesuit Mission to Japan
B. Historiography of the Jesuit Mission to New France
C. Towards a Synthesis of Historiographies
II. Interpreting Non-Christian Cultures: Jesuit Biases
A. The Jesuit Interpretation of Japanese Culture
B. The French Jesuit Interpretation of Native Culture
C. Jesuit Biases in Interpreting Non-Christian Cultures
III. Preaching, Winning Converts and Educating Them: Evolving Multifaceted Strategies
A. Japan
B. New France
C. A New Paradigm for the Missionary Strategy in New France
IV. Organising a Mission for a Christian Community: Missionary Réductions Reconsidered
A. Prototypes for Amerindian Réductions
B. Comparison between Japan and Paraguay
C. The Réductions in New France in Comparison with the Paraguayan and Japanese Models
D. The International Evolution of Missionary Réductions
V. Accepting and Comprehending Christianity: Non-European Practice of the Religion
A. Problems of Historical Epistemology
B. The Japanese Acceptance and Comprehension of Christianity
C. The Amerindian Acceptance and Comprehension of Christianity
Conclusion: The French Jesuit Mission Revisited
APPENDICES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
those interested in New France history, in missionary history, in global communication, or in intercultural communication