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Philosophy and Religion

An engraving of a  medieval missionary discovering the point where the Earth and sky meet. The Sun, Moon and Stars are shown.

What's Inside

19 Collections
109 Volumes
2,055 Documents
719,190 Pages
Missionary Society Seal

Introduction

Many of the primary source collections published by British Online Archives (BOA) demonstrate the development and impact of key ideologies, secular and theological. Thus, they can be grouped under the broad theme of “Philosophy and Religion”. 

This theme illuminates one of BOA’s archival strengths: our extensive collections relating to Christian missionaries that operated throughout the globe—typically within British colonial contexts—throughout the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. 

These collections chart the dissemination and development of Christianity, particularly Anglicanism, throughout the early modern and modern periods, casting light on the activities of missionaries, including the work of female evangelists. The collections likewise evidence the (at times hostile) reception that representatives of Christian missionary societies received in traditionally non-Christian cultures. Many of these evangelists hailed from Britain and Europe. There are, however, examples of people who chose to convert to Christianity and who themselves engaged in proselytism. 

Consequently, many of the collections located within this theme can be utilised in order to explore the varied contexts in which Christian missionaries operated and the differing reactions and outcomes that their work generated.

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An image of Oswald Mosley walking towards the camera. To the left of him are a line of people saluting to him.

Licensed to access The British Union of Fascists: 1933-1953

Contributor The National Archives (UK) Contents 6 Volumes, 53 Documents (7,862 Pages)
The National Archives (UK) logo
A painting of Lady Welby on the left sat down, with William Welby-Gregory stood on her right.

Licensed to access 19th and 20th Century Philosophy in Perspective

Contributor Senate House Library; University of London Contents 6 Volumes, 54 Documents (17,620 Pages)
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University of London logo
An image of the Wesleys' Holy Club meeting at Oxford.

Licensed to access Methodist Publications, 1855-1919

Contributor Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History Contents 3 Volumes, 21 Documents (24,449 Pages)
Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History logo
Statue of John Wesley.

Licensed to access The Methodist Recorder, 1861-1919

Contributor Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History Contents 5 Volumes, 39 Documents (42,079 Pages)
Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History logo
Maharaja of Patiala visits the Western Front

Licensed to access ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’: Missionaries in Asia during the World Wars, 1914-1946

Contributor Bodleian Library Contents 7 Volumes, 13 Documents (823 Pages)
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An illustration of a logging camp on Sproat's Lake, Vancouver Island

Licensed to access Canada in Records from Colonial Missionaries, 1722-1952

Contributor Bodleian Library Contents 10 Volumes, 91 Documents (57,004 Pages)
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Bradlaugh triumphs. The Oaths Bill Passed by a Hundred Votes, from 'St. Stephen's Review Presentation Cartoon'. In one scene, Bradlaugh is held by multiple police officers. In the next, he is freed, with his arms in the air in celebration

Licensed to access Atheism and Anti-War Sentiments in the Bradlaugh Family, 1833-1948

Contributor National Secular Society Contents 5 Volumes, 62 Documents (15,378 Pages)
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Female Elephant pursued with Javelins, protecting her young. Arrows are being thrown at the elephant by a crowd of people.

Licensed to access South Africa in Records from Colonial Missionaries, 1819-1900

Contributor Bodleian Library Contents 5 Volumes, 341 Documents (37,903 Pages)
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Contextual Essays

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A collage of magazine covers. These include The Tatler, London Life, The Graphic, and Britannia and Eve.

Guide to British Illustrated Periodicals, 1869–1970

British Online Archives
Published 3rd January, 2024 33 min read
A painting of Lady Welby on the left sat down, with William Welby-Gregory stood on her right. Before them is a laid table.

Victoria Lady Welby (1837-1913) and Significs

Professor Susan Petrilli
Published 18th July, 2022 47 min read
A black and white photo of a church with a large spire nestled within trees. A person in the foreground looks towards the building.

A Brief Introduction: The Records of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts

Isobel Pridmore
Published 10th March, 2021 11 min read
A black and white photo of the top of a Church. A sign on the Church reads Wesleyan Erected 1879.

The Methodist Recorder, 1861-1919: Collection Guide

British Online Archives
Published 22nd October, 2020 22 min read
A black and white photo of the top of a Church. A sign on the Church reads Wesleyan Erected 1879.

Methodist Publications, 1855-1919: Collection Guide

British Online Archives
Published 22nd October, 2020 22 min read
A pair of hands clasped together, clutching a necklace with a cross pendant.

Tracing the Origins and Consequences of Christian Missionary Activities in Africa

Felix Meier zu Selhausen
Published 5th November, 2019 4 min read
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