The heritage: Christian missions from colonial times to the present

Date: Thursday 16th January 2025 Venue: Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen. Room 10.3.28 Meeting room at third floor, building 10, Karen Blixens Vej 8 (nearest metro station Islands Brygge) Registration: https://forms.gle/rpFXGE57GrxJdJpA9 Organizers: Council on International Relations the ELCD and Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen. 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. 12:30-12:45 Opening remarks: Annika Hvithamar 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 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