Book Reviews
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Book Reviews Hinduism and Modernity. By David Smith. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003. Pp. 250. £50 / $62.95; paperback £15.99 / $26.95. Hinduism and Modernity by David Smith Christian figures (such as Brahmabandhav when it rolls back into the temple of its seeks to explore how the seemingly Upadhyay), as well as a whole array of origin, Smith’s book slowly rolls to a stop, disparate forces of Hinduism and Western missionaries who played such a leaving the reader wondering how much modernity have interacted with one vital role in stimulating the Bengali progress has actually been made. another. Smith demonstrates his Renaissance, are all curiously neglected. Reminiscent of the famous race around pedagogical abilities through an insightful The role of the printing press and the emer- the universe between Ganesh and Skanda array of metaphors borrowed from gence of vernacular, prose writings by for the mango prize, wherein Skanda popular Hinduism that he uses to illustrate Hindu reformers in mediating modernism actually makes the journey and the various themes within Hinduism and and Hinduism are likewise omitted. elephant-headed Ganesh merely plods modernity. This approach serves him In part 3 the author chooses three around his parents and declares them the particularly well in part 1 of the book themes for comparison: gender issues in universe, the reader may wonder whether when he is defining Hinduism and modernity and Hinduism, idolatry in East we, like Skanda of old, really made the modernity and tracing the broad, historical and West, and the notion of the self in the journey and received the prize or, like themes in each movement. For example, modern West and the Hindu East. His Ganesh, have simply walked around the his comparison of the great, rolling insights into how modern Indian women two themes of Hinduism and modernity Jagannath from the great temple at Puri have interacted with traditional and declared the contest over. with the great, rolling juggernaut of oppressive cultural structures set against —Timothy C. Tennent modernity and its commitment to never- the backdrop of Hinduism, which glorifies ending progress is nothing less than and worships the female, is very insightful Timothy C. Tennent, Associate Professor of World brilliant. and helpful. Increasing incoherence seems Missions, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, In part 2 the author explores the to creep into the remaining two themes, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, is the author of history of India’s discovery of modernism however, resulting in very little Christianity at the Religious Roundtable: and the European discovery of Hinduism. substantive interaction with the Evangelicalism in Conversation with In this part a knowledgeable reader will comparable themes in modernity. Indeed, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam (Baker, 2002). be surprised by the glaring omissions in like modernism itself or, like the great, Smith’s historical survey. Major Indian rolling Jagannath at the end of the festival God and Globalization. Vol. 3: criticism could be made that some of the Christ and the Dominions of authors are perhaps overly preoccupied Civilization. with the glory of the past. In this respect, they fall short and have not addressed the Edited by Max L. Stackhouse, with Diane B. relevance of God in the most present and Obenchain. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press satisfactory way. International, 2002. Pp. 360. $40. —Thu En Yu In today’s world the resurgence of religion much [as the economic]” ( p. 16). This Thu En Yu is Principal of Sabah Theological is conspicuous amid the interplay of forces book is a forceful reminder that religion is Seminary, in Malaysia, an interdenominational in the current rush to globalization. Several still one of the underlying factors that institution with multinational mission partners. authors in this third volume of God and must be reckoned with. Although Globalization address the relevance of God globalization itself may be a recent in the midst of current global changes. phenomenon, the contributors to this Scott Thomas, for example, devotes his volume make it clear that religion remains chapter to this subject, referring in alive and very much active in effecting particular to writers in different epochs change in the modern world. Blood Ground: Colonialism, who have drawn attention to the influence The various authors write Missions, and the Contest for of religion. This chapter highlights and knowledgeably in their respective fields Christianity in the Cape Colony illustrates the merit of this excellent work. and address insightfully the new and Britain, 1799–1853. Proponents and major players of international context. For both newcomers globalization are primarily preoccupied and veteran readers, the chapters ably By Elizabeth Elbourne. Montreal and with economic issues, which dictate to a clarify the various “dominions” of Kingston: McGill-Queen’s Univ. Press, 2002. large extent the direction of globalization. civilization. Pp. xi, 499. Can$75 / US$75 / £57. The writers of this volume are clear in Globalization, however, although a pointing out, however, that, amid all the recent concept, has in a sense been taking Recently several new approaches to the forces at work in globalization, “religion place since time immemorial, at least in history of Britain and its empire have can and does shape those principalities the movement of the various religions begun to bear fruit. In coming to and powers, authorities and regencies as beyond their respective borders. The understand the limitations of both July 2004 133 J ~ "national" perspectives and those elite for economic and political parity with ~Th' Changing confined to the history of particular whites" (p. 4). She moves deftly between It FACE colonial localities, scholars have imperial politicians and officials, Cape of increasingly tried to take account of the settlers and colonial authorities, transnational, international, or global missionaries at home and in South Africa, American circumstances shaping the imperial humanitarian activists, and the Khoi Evangelicalism experience. In reaction against the themselves. Not only is the missionary dominant secular paradigms of that role in imperial expansion analyzed, but empire's historiography, attention has the part played by Christianity itselfin the CALL FOR PAPERS been given to the importance of religion subordination of the Khoi and San is for empire, particularly in the forms of penetratingly explored. The Institute for the Study of overseas missionary enterprise and the Demonstrating how all parties American Evangelicals invites Christian encounter with non-Christians. appropriated and defined Christianity in proposals for 8-10 $2,500 Finally, the manner in which colonial ways that would best serve their own awards to fund chapter-length possessions and the processes of empire- individual interests, Elbourne argues for essays that examine the changing building have shaped not only a distant the key contribution of missions in face ofAmerican evangelicalism. colonial periphery but metropolitan legitimizing colonial empire for many Britain itself has become the focus of people in Britain itself. She gently takes We seek studies that address investigation. issue with the influential work ofJean and ethnic evangelicals, particularly Taking advantage ofthe rich literature John Comaroff, arguing persuasively that those whose ranks have swelled on early nineteenth-century South Africa, Khoi agency and initiative were fargreater since 1976, and how they: and drawing on her own extensive than the Comaroffs allow. African research, Elizabeth Elbourne has understanding and diffusion of • Understand combined these three perspectives in a Christianity were sufficiently cogent and evangelicalism wonderful study that will long remain an wide-ranging as to render talk of • Relate to American inescapable reference point forall students missionary control or dominance evangelicalism of the changing relations between inappropriate. This outstanding book • Address cultural, Christianity and empire. A short review deserves the widest possible audience. -Andrew Porter political, theological, cannot do justice to its exceptional combination of scholarship, insight, and and social issues readability. Focusing on the Cape's Khoi Andrew Porter, Rhodes Professor of Imperial History people, the London Missionary Society, at King's College in the University of London, has Our larger interest is to explore and its Kat River Settlement, Elbourne written Religion Versus Empire? British ways in which the globalization offers a narrative account of a tragic half- Protestant Missionaries and Overseas of American evangelicalism century encounter demonstrating "the Expansion, 1700-1914 (Manchester Univ. Press, promises to influence what incompatibility of settler colonialism and 2004). American evangelicalism is. the hopes of a Christianized Khoekhoe Proposals from junior and senior scholars inside and outside the academy and insights from various disciplines are welcome. Christians Versus Muslims in Proposals should include a c.v., Modem Egypt: The Century-Long and a two-to-three page proposal. Struggle for Coptic Equality. Include contact information for two people who can recommend By S. S. Hasan. New York: Oxford Univ. the proposed work. Deadline: Press, 2003. Pp. xiv, 320. $45. September 1, 2004. Awards will be announced on September 30, Through the lens of S.S.Hasan, a nominal creative process ofmodernization inwhich Muslim Egyptian woman, the illuminating