Book Reviews
Book Reviews Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. 2d ed., revised and expanded. By Lamin Sanneh. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2008. Pp. xiii, 318. Paperback $30. Lamin Sanneh, pioneer of the new social life, creeds and doctrines, institu- the sole preserve or vehicle of sacred historiography of world Christianity, tionsandideals,languagesandliteratures, utterance.Rather,God’sSpiritcouldmove has prepared an improved and updated and qualities and forms of artistic expres- intoandindwellanylanguageandthereby versionofhis widely acclaimed classic, sion. Variations in idiom brought further transformtheheartsandmindswithinany whichoriginally appeared in 1989. Into localized forms of Gospel embodiment, as culture. Pentecost reversed Babel. Thus this magisterialwork he has inserted a Gospel truths were themselves translated from within each language and culture, remarkably astute and insightful new and reincarnated within new languages. new features could be grafted into new chapter on the “Authorized (‘King James’) Christianity never was, and certainly is and emerging forms of Christianity. Bible,” probing both its origin and its wide- not, more inherently European (Western) Apithy summary of Sanneh’s con- ranging impact upon world Christianity; than it is Asian (Eastern) or African clusions can be found in his most recent and he has placed expanded and updated (Southern). The origins of Christian faith, work, as explained in Sanneh’s Disciples chapter bibliographies at the end, with after all, lay neither in Europe nor in Asia of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity revamped appendixes. Between these two or Africa, but in the Middle East. Thus, (2008): “Christianity’s engagement with publicationslietwentyyearsofcontinuously while Christianity was eventually heavily the languages and cultures of the world deepening reflection and fresh research.
[Show full text]