Four Axes of Mission: Conversion and the Purposes of Mission in Protestant History

Abstract This article offers a framework for historical analysis of the goals Protestant missionary projects. ‘Conversion’ in Protestantism is not clearly defined, liable to be falsified and may (in some views) require preparatory work various kinds before it can attempted. For these reasons, missionaries have adopted variety intermediate proxy their work, which argued organised onto four axes: orthodoxy, zeal, civilisation morality. Together form matrix missionaries, would-be converts sponsors tried negotiate. In different contexts, chosen combinations priorities, adapted face experience. The suggests how projects analysed using this concludes by suggesting problems issues history missions such illuminate.