Jesuit missions to Asia 1500s–1700s

Before 1500 Christianity mostly found in Europe Christianity mostly found in Europe pockets in Ethiopia, India, Egypt, and isolated communities on trade routes pockets in Ethiopia, India, Egypt, and isolated communities on trade routes Muslim countries bound Christianity to the East Muslim countries bound Christianity to the East 1453: Constantinople falls to Ottoman Turks1453: Constantinople falls to Ottoman Turks Christianity inculturated in the West Christianity inculturated in the West Philosophically: Plato and AristotlePhilosophically: Plato and Aristotle Culturally: European customsCulturally: European customs

Portugal and Spain lead Portugal first to develop missions by going around Africa (early 1500s; in India by 1534) Portugal first to develop missions by going around Africa (early 1500s; in India by 1534) mostly developing commercial interestsmostly developing commercial interests brought slaves from Africa (Mozambique) to Goabrought slaves from Africa (Mozambique) to Goa Split territory in Americas (Pope Alexander VI) Split territory in Americas (Pope Alexander VI) Tied to commercial interests, but can’t be reduced to them Tied to commercial interests, but can’t be reduced to them often missionaries and commercial/political forces at odds with each other, esp. in the Americasoften missionaries and commercial/political forces at odds with each other, esp. in the Americas At first Catholic; Protestants get going in the 19th century At first Catholic; Protestants get going in the 19th century Although Dutch and English traders move into Asia 1600sAlthough Dutch and English traders move into Asia 1600s

Jesuits  Numbers 1,000 by death of Ignatius (1556) 1,000 by death of Ignatius (1556) 16,000 by ,000 by 1615  Focus on education and missions  By 1750, 3,300 Jesuits outside of Europe (more than any other religious order) Pioneers of Christian expansion into Asia Pioneers of Christian expansion into Asia Vision was one of inculturating by accommodation Vision was one of inculturating by accommodation Ultimately, this vision lost out, due to various historical circumstances (within Christianity) Ultimately, this vision lost out, due to various historical circumstances (within Christianity)

India  Francis Xavier (friend of Ignatius) arrives 1542 intellectual strategy intellectual strategy  Base at Goa established  Roberto de Nobili (1605): accommodation lived as a sanyassi (holy man) lived as a sanyassi (holy man) robes, diet, learning language and writingsrobes, diet, learning language and writings refused contact with other Europeans refused contact with other Europeans focused on debate with Indians (Brahmins) focused on debate with Indians (Brahmins) Problem: caste system Problem: caste system not coherent with Christianitynot coherent with Christianity yet, could not get into (upper) society without ityet, could not get into (upper) society without it compromise: build churches with half-walls and multiple entrancescompromise: build churches with half-walls and multiple entrances

Jesuit mission in China  Matteo Ricci arrives 1601  Strategy: speak to intellectuals Wore Confucian robes Wore Confucian robes Debated philosophy (“Master of Heaven”) Debated philosophy (“Master of Heaven”) Offered his scientific knowledge (clocks, maps, etc.) Offered his scientific knowledge (clocks, maps, etc.)

Back in Europe  Jesuits seen as too powerful and elite Confessors to European aristocracy and rulers Confessors to European aristocracy and rulers Sucessful in foreign missions Sucessful in foreign missions  Other orders (Dominicans, Franciscans) began to raise questions about the Jesuits’ “syncretistic” strategies  Big issue: inculturation and ancestor veneration

Rites controversy  Jesuits allowed ancestor veneration for Chinese Christians Seen as a social and civic ritual, not religious Seen as a social and civic ritual, not religious  Dominicans objected, did not let Asian Christians practice rites of veneration  1600s: both sides appealed to pope  1742: Benedict XIV prohibits allowing ancestor veneration; all missionaries must take oath to uphold this 1939: Reversed by Pius XII 1939: Reversed by Pius XII