Faith in Objects: American Missionary Expositions in the Early Twentieth Century (Contemporary Anthropology of Religion)

In the early twentieth century, missionary expositions were a central event in the religious life of many Americans. Hasinoff brings the untold history of the World in Boston of 1911, "America's First Great Missionary Exposition," to light, focusing on how the material culture of missions shaped domestic interactions with evangelism, Christianity, and the consumption of ethnological knowledge "In the early twentieth century, missionary expositions were a central event in the religious life of many Americans. They also converged with the research agenda of anthropology, which was then defined by museum work. This thoughtfully researched book brings the untold history of the World in Boston of 1911 to light. Extraordinary in terms of content, geographic scope, and attendance, "America's First Great Missionary Exposition" was conceived on the model of world's fairs, and grew out of an established tradition of missionary exhibitions. This compelling history reveals how the material culture of missions shaped domestic interactions with evangelism, Christianity, and the consumption of ethnological knowledge"--Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-14 Antecedents....Pages 15-27 Front Matter....Pages 29-29 Setting the Stage....Pages 31-54 First Impressions....Pages 55-68 Front Matter....Pages 69-69 Object Lessons....Pages 71-82 Spiritless Pleasures....Pages 83-97 Front Matter....Pages 99-99 An Established Tradition....Pages 101-119 Missionary Engagements....Pages 121-134 Objects of Missionary Education....Pages 135-149 Front Matter....Pages 151-151 Scripted Parts....Pages 153-169 Lifelong Lessons....Pages 171-188 Epilogue....Pages 189-198 Back Matter....Pages 199-269