Blog 5

Why did Christianity take hold in some places more than others? Christianity took hold in some places more than others for obvious reasons. In China, India, and Islamic nations, people already had strong religions with stable religious foundations and firmly established societies and were content with them. Therefore, they rejected all forms of Christianity which were considered as a distraction from the norm. The British that formed the missionary fraternity that spread Christianity to European colonies were reluctant to convert Indians. Britain’s agenda in India was to amass profits through the East India Company rather than revolutionize the thoughts of the masses to accept Christianity. Unlike Africa where the British government exercised direct control over its colonies, India was indirectly regulated. Also, culture and the Buddhism religion were intertwined such that the caste system survived Christianity. Their leaders including Tulsidas, Surdas, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy imposed Sanatana Dharma on Hindus. In the Middle East where nations are predominantly Islamic, religious intolerance hampered successful introduction of Christianity. Christian missionaries were perceived as adversaries. They were often subjected to violence, intimidation, and persecution. In China, the spread of Christianity began during the Tang dynasty. Strayer notes that Christianity was preceded by religions including Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism thus making it difficult for successful infiltration among indigenous people. Furthermore, Christian missionaries were banned from converting the Manchus and Han Chinese to Christianity by the Chinese emperor. Most European colonies in Africa and America did not have a distinct culture or religion. As a result, it became easier for the missionaries to convince them and get them assimilated into Christianity. For Americans, the missionaries took a stricter approach in infiltrating the region with Christianity. Their message was less accommodating of the Natives’ customs which left them with no choice but to enlist their conqueror’s religion. Christianity among Africans had an inconceivable beginning. Enslaved Africans were compelled to adopt their oppressor’s religion since they could no longer practice their old religious beliefs in the new world. The slaves were separated from people that were familiar to them to hinder communication. Therefore, Christianity became the last resort in an unfamiliar social context.