Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the World but Changed America

Religious historian Hollinger (After Cloven Tongues of Fire) argues persuasively that “missionary-connected,” ecumenically-minded white Protestants shaped public life in America more profoundly than has previously been recognized. Between the late 19th century and World War II, Hollinger states, ecumenical Protestant denominations were particularly active in the Middle East and Asia. Having spent years in the field, these faithful returned to the United States with personal stories and political perspectives that shaped both cultural attitudes and public policy regarding regions of the world that most Americans would never visit. Hollinger posits that ecumenical missionaries worked to shift their approach from conversion to humanitarian efforts and focused on providing educational, medical, and other services to indigenous populations. This generation of Protestant missionaries, Hollinger suggests, were eclipsed by younger generations with more missionary zeal and turned to secular postmissionary service work in government, education, and nongovernmental organizations, where they continued to be involved in humanitarian causes. Thoroughly researched and well crafted, this is a reminder of the influence that liberal, cosmopolitan Protestant intellectuals have had on American life. (Nov.)