Missionary

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A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. The English word "missionary" is derived from Latin, the equivalent of the Greek-derived word, "apostle". In Judeo-Christian cultures the term is most commonly used for missions to propagate Biblical faiths, but it applies just as well to any proselytizing creed or ideology. While some faiths, especially those focused on ancestor cult and/or local spirits, as in Animisms (in many tribal and/or 'natural' cultures) and Japanese Shintoism, make little or no effort to spread beyond their ethno-cultural home societies, most religions have a less exclusive creed and do engage in missionary activities to propagate it.

Although missionaries can be sent by any religion, the word is most often used to refer to Christian missionaries. Buddhism, in fact, launched 'the first large-scale missionary effort in the history of the world's religions' (Foltz, R.C., Religions of the silk road, 1999, p.37) Missionaries of all religions make up just one component of Faith-Based Foreign Aid.

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Christian missions

Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely accepted definition of a Christian mission has been "to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement." This definition is motivated by theological analyses of the acts required to enhance God's reputation (usually expressed as "glory" or "honor"). The definition is claimed to summarize the acts of Jesus' ministry, which is taken as a model for all ministries. The motivation is said to be God's will, plainly stated throughout the Bible, including the Old Testament.

Most missionaries promote economic development, literacy, education, health care and orphanages as well. Standard Christian doctrines (the Doctrine of Love) cause most missions to give this aid without requiring conversion.

See also: Christian Mission

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In the Bible

According to the documents of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Biblical authority for missions begins quite early in Genesis, 12:1-3, in which Abraham is blessed so that through him and his descendants, all the "peoples" of the world would be blessed. The Bible also says in Matthew 28:20 that the apostles were to "make disciples of all nations" Others point to God's wish, often expressed in the Bible, that all peoples of the earth would worship Him. Therefore, Christian missions go where worship is not, in order to bring worship to God...

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Catholic missions

During the Age of Discovery, the Roman Catholic Church established a number of Missions in the Americas and other colonies, in order to spread Christianity in the New World and to convert the Native Americans and other indigenous 'heathens'. These are arguably the most well-known missions in history.

As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, it was logical for the missions, especially in early phases, to be undertaken largely by orders and congregations, which are more personal and flexible then the secular hierarchy. Over time a new structure is established in the mission area, often starting with special jurisdictions known an apostolic prefecture and apostolic vicariate, which aim to 'graduate' to regular diocesan status, often finally topped of with one of more archbishops, even a cardinal, as the young church is considered 'grown up', especially after a former colony's independence.

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Catholic missionary congregations

Some examples include;

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Protestant missions

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Other Christian Groups

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Jehovah's Witness missionaries

See also: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their missionary activities. Typically, all adult Witnesses are expected to spend time every week "witnessing" in their area. Depending on the laws in the respective country, this can take the form of proselytizing door to door, distribution of magazines and other literature (The Watchtower and Awake!) and responding to the questions of passersby.

Some Witnesses volunteer to pledge seventy hours a month (regular pioneers) or fifty hours (auxiliary pioneers) in their local areas. Called "pioneer service," it is of particular importance in areas where the need of publishers is great. Such pioneers attend special seminars and courses to refine their teaching ability. The requirements are challenging, as Jehovah's Witnesses do not receive salaries for their ministerial work. A pioneer strives for self-sufficiency, often working part or full time while fulfilling ministerial obligations. This is especially important when working in poorer nations where they need to provide for their own needs while organizing congregations.

Foreign missionaries take on additional special tasks, such as establishing congregations, translating literature and organizing building projects (as well as relief work) in remote areas and countries. This requires a commitment to at least 120 hours monthly in the public ministry. To prepare them for this, a special training course is provided semi-annually for Jehovah's Witnesses who qualify (by experience and circumstance) to perform this service, and is held at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. All of their basic needs (including food, clothing, shelter and transportation) are fully provided, and they visit their countries of origin at least once every five years. Additionally, in recent years a school for single elders and ministerial servants has been established, the Ministerial Training School. This three-month training period consists of a program similar to Gilead in it course-work, however the schools are held regionally rather than in a central location as with Gilead. Upon graduation, the students return to their home congregations for a period of time after which they are then sent out to areas in need. At times this includes foreign missionary fields, depending on their linguist abilities and circumstances.

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Latter-Day Saint missionaries

Main article: Mormon missionary

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work. Young men between the ages of 19 and 26 are encouraged to go on a two-year, full-time proselyting mission. This is usually served in a foreign country or different area of the country from where the missionary lives. Young women and retired couples may serve missions as well. Missionaries typically spend one to two months in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, UT or in other MTCs throughout the world, studying scripture, learning new languages, and otherwise preparing themselves for the culture in which they will be living. The LDS church has about 52,000 missionaries worldwide. [1]

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Muslim missionary activity

Islam, the second largest religion next to Christianity, spread rapidly from the Arabian Peninsula with invasions, explorers, traders and caravans after the death of the prophet Muhammad. Spreading towards southern Asia was done by explorers and later Arab generals, resulting in small conflicts and battles. Islam spread to southeast Asia with sailors and traders.

From the start political leaders (originally the Caliphs, meant to head both religion and universal Islamic community) actively and often aggressively, spread their religion and their rule, using holy war (the military application of jihad) to establish a new Muslim social order. Once state authority was wrested from the Dar al-Harb (land of war) to the Dar al-Islam (land of Islam), Islamic rulers were relatively accommodating for "people of the book" (Christians and Jews) as long as they accepted Muslim rule, refrained from public worship, and paid a tax called jizya as a "protected" minority. While this certainly went further than strictly missionary activity, this served as a great aid in converting conquered lands.

However, once the political expansion, "planting the green banner of faith" had met its limits, the focus had to shift from the "integral" model of Islamizing whole communities, to voluntary conversion drives, or "dawah", which had always been important.

Since the 20th century, funding by Muslim governments was used to open Islamic schools and mosques. Generous donations, especially from Gulf States, has enabled Islam to make significant advances, especially in black Africa.

A Muslim missionary is often called a Caller to Islam which is the English adaptation of the Arabic word Da`ee or Da'i for one who proselytises for Islam.

See a List of callers to Islam for prominent Da`ees.

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India-based religions

  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism was fairly successful in converting most non-Hindu societies (mainly in South east Asia), except in their native Indian subcontinent; later the Malay countries were largely converted to Islam, while Christianity had some more concentrated successes.
  • Jainism
  • Sikhism
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Jewish missions

In ancient times, the Hebrew patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah were considered to be the prime role-models to "convert" the masses to Monotheism based on the verse in the Book of Genesis:

"God said to Abram, 'Go away from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you ... Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their belongings, as well as the people they had gathered, and they left, heading toward Canaan..." [2] (Genesis 12:1;5).

"[T]he people they had gathered" is interpreted to mean the people whom Abraham and Sarah had brought over to the belief in the Hebrew God worshipped by Abraham and Sarah themselves.

Additional to this there is the example of the conversion of the Moabite woman Ruth as written in The Book of Ruth. This is commonly given as precedence for conversion in a contemporary context.

Modern Jewish teachers repudiate proselytization of Gentiles in order to convert them. The reason for this is that Gentiles already have a complete relationship with God via the Noahidic covenant (See Noahide Laws); there is therefore no need for them to become Jewish, which requires more work of them. In addition, Judaism espouses a concept of "quality" not "quantity". It is more important in the eyes of Jews to have converts who are completely committed to observing Jewish law, than to have converts who will violate the Abrahamic covenant of which they have just been initiated.

However, most Jewish religious groups encourage "Outreach" to Jews alienated from their own heritage due to assimilation and intermarriage. The overall movement encourages Jews to become more observant of Jewish religious law (known as halakha). Those people who do become religious are known as Baal teshuvas. The large Hasidic group known as Chabad Lubavitch has internationally promoted such "outreach." Others, such as the National Jewish Outreach Program do the same in North America.

In recent times, members of the American Reform movement began a program to convert to Judaism the non-Jewish spouses of its intermarried members and non-Jews who have an interest in Judaism. Their rationale is that so many Jews were lost during the Holocaust that newcomers must be sought out and welcomed. This approach has been repudiated by Orthodox and Conservative Jews as unrealistic and posing a danger. They say that these efforts make Judaism seem an easy religion to join and observe when in reality being Jewish entails many difficulties and sacrifices.

However, these practises of active conversion no longer appear to be contemporary and whilst it may have been a popular notion, it does not appear to be representative of Reform Judaism as a whole. See http://rj.org/policies.shtml for the history and policies of Reform Judaism.

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Non-religious missionaries

The original meaning of the word "missionary" is not specifically religious, but refers instead to anyone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program.

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See also

In history, alternative, but less ethical, conversion-inducing methods are by force, such as a religious war, (see Christian Crusades and the Islamic Jihad for examples), or via socio-economic stimuli by the dominant religion (such as reserving offices and privileges, and/or lower taxation for adherents).

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Sources and External links

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