About the book
In the decades after World War II, Protestant missionaries abroad were a topic of vigorous public debate. From religious periodicals and Sunday sermons to novels and anthropological monographs, public conversations about missionaries followed a powerful yet paradoxical line of reasoning, namely that people abroad needed greater autonomy from U.S. power and that Americans could best tell others how to use their freedom. In The Gospel of Freedom and Power, Sarah E. Ruble traces and analyzes these public discussions about what it meant for Americans abroad to be good world citizens, placing them firmly in the context of the United States' postwar global dominance.
Bringing together a wide range of sources, Ruble seeks to understand how discussions about a relatively small group of Americans working abroad became part of a much larger cultural conversation. She concludes that whether viewed as champions of nationalist revolutions or propagators of the gospel of capitalism, missionaries — along with their supporters, interpreters, and critics — ultimately both challenged and reinforced a rhetoric of exceptionalism that made Americans the judges of what was good for the rest of the world.
Editions of The Gospel of Freedom and Power
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807835814
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469618937
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807837429
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469601601
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890885579
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893134377
Read an Excerpt
In the decades after World War II, Protestant missionaries abroad were a topic of vigorous public debate. From religious periodicals and Sunday sermons to novels and anthropological monographs, public conversations about missionaries followed a powerful yet paradoxical line of reasoning, namely that people abroad needed greater autonomy from U.S. power and that Americans could best tell others how to use their freedom. In The Gospel of Freedom and Power, Sarah E. Ruble traces and analyzes these public discussions about what it meant for Americans abroad to be good world citizens, placing them firmly in the context of the United States' postwar global dominance.
Bringing together a wide range of sources, Ruble seeks to understand how discussions about a relatively small group of Americans working abroad became part of a much larger cultural conversation. She concludes that whether viewed as champions of nationalist revolutions or propagators of the gospel of capitalism, missionaries — along with their supporters, interpreters, and critics — ultimately both challenged and reinforced a rhetoric of exceptionalism that made Americans the judges of what was good for the rest of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Gospel of Freedom and Power about?
In the decades after World War II, Protestant missionaries abroad were a topic of vigorous public debate. From religious periodicals and Sunday sermons to novels and anthropological monographs, public conversations about missionaries followed a powerful yet paradoxical line of reasoning, namely that people abroad needed greater autonomy from U.S. power and that Americans could best tell others how to use their freedom. In The Gospel of Freedom and Power, Sarah E. Ruble traces and analyzes these public discussions about what it meant for Americans abroad to be good world citizens, placing them firmly in the context of the United States' postwar global dominance.
Bringing together a wide range of sources, Ruble seeks to understand how discussions about a relatively small group of Americans working abroad became part of a much larger cultural conversation. She concludes that whether viewed as champions of nationalist revolutions or propagators of the gospel of capitalism, missionaries — along with their supporters, interpreters, and critics — ultimately both challenged and reinforced a rhetoric of exceptionalism that made Americans the judges of what was good for the rest of the world.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Gospel of Freedom and Power?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Christianity
Where can I read a sample of The Gospel of Freedom and Power?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807835814
How long is The Gospel of Freedom and Power and how many pages does it have?
The Gospel of Freedom and Power has 232 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Gospel of Freedom and Power?
Sarah E. Ruble
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Gospel of Freedom and Power is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807835814) and paperback(ISBN 9781469618937) and ebook(ISBN 9780807837429) and ebook(ISBN 9781469601601) and ebook(ISBN 9798890885579) and ebook(ISBN 9798893134377)
Where can I buy The Gospel of Freedom and Power online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Gospel of Freedom and Power from below
Where can I buy The Gospel of Freedom and Power?