The heritage of Christian missions from colonial times to the present

Celebrating the publication of Prof. Tone Bleie’s (University of Tromsø) book "A New Testament".

Scandinavian missionaries and Santal chiefs from Company and British Crown Rule to Independence (Solun Bokvennen 2023)
A New Testament, as Bleie has named her seminal work on the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran mission to the Santals in colonial India, documents the agency of the Santal (chiefs) leading to conversion and shed new light on the often too simple approaches to the history of missions during colonial time and independent churches in India and Bangladesh. The book also illuminates the anthropological and linguistic work of the missionaries raising questions on responsibility for the large collections of heritage at European museums. Issues opening for further perspectives.

The final part of the program – the interview and discussion on "A New Testament" is a hybrid event, also accessible as a webinar. The link is shared with registered participants.

Programme

12:30 - 12:45 Opening remarks: Annika Hvithamar , Head of Department, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen.
12:45 - 13:15 From St. Thomas to churches in Independent India – Caste, ethnicity, language and culture.
Peter B. Andersen, dr.phil., Associate Professor, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional studies, University of Copenhagen.
13:15 - 13:45 Presenting the world at home. Missionary exhibitions after the Edinburgh Conference in 1910. Anthropology and challenges to the Christian missions.
Daniel Henschen, Ph.D., postdoc., SAXO Department, University of Copenhagen.
13:45 - 14:00 Tea and coffee
14:00 - 14:30 Indigenous peoples’ freedom of religion or belief: Conflicts, obstacles, and breakthroughs in Santal experiences.
Jonas Adelin Jørgensen, PhD, The Council on Interchurch International Relations of the ELCD
14:30 - 15:00 Postcolonial perspectives on cultural heritage seen through the history of missions.
Helle Jørgensen, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of History, University of Birmingham
15:00 - 16:00 Interview and discussion on A New Testament. Scandinavian missionaries and Santal chiefs from Company and British Crown Rule to Independence.
Jonas Adelin Jørgensen, PhD, The Council on Interchurch Relations of the ELCD interviews Prof. Ph.D. Tone Bleie, University of Tromsø

You do not need to be registered, but for tea and coffee please register before 10 January 2025 at noon.