Faith in objects

American missionary expositions in the early twentieth century

Erin L. Hasinoff

269 pages  |  ~7 hrs

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Faith in objects

American missionary expositions in the early twentieth century

By Erin L. Hasinoff

In the early 1900s, American religious communities gathered to witness something extraordinary: massive missionary expositions that brought distant cultures and spiritual practices directly into their neighborhoods. Erin L. Hasinoff uncovers the fascinating story of one such gathering, the World in Boston exposition of 1911, which drew unprecedented crowds and forever changed how Americans encountered faith beyond their own traditions.

This meticulously researched exploration reveals how religious artifacts, cultural displays, and missionary collections became powerful tools for spiritual education and cross-cultural understanding. Drawing from the intersection of anthropology and religious studies, Hasinoff demonstrates how these exhibitions shaped American Christianity while simultaneously influencing how people consumed knowledge about other cultures and belief systems.

For modern spiritual seekers, this work offers valuable insights into how material objects can carry profound religious meaning and how encounters with diverse faith traditions have historically transformed individual and collective spiritual understanding. The book illuminates the complex relationships between evangelism, cultural exchange, and the ways physical artifacts can deepen our comprehension of different spiritual paths.

Through careful examination of this pivotal moment in American religious history, readers discover how public exhibitions of faith created new possibilities for spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, and the expansion of religious consciousness in an increasingly connected world.

What You'll Discover

  • Explore World in Boston (Exposition) (1911)
  • Explore Missions
  • Explore United states, church history, 20th century
  • Explore RELIGION
  • Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General
  • Explore Church history
  • Explore United states, church history
  • Explore History

Topics

World in Boston (Exposition) (1911) Missions United states, church history, 20th century RELIGION SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General Church history United states, church history History SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural Christian Ministry Exhibitions RELIGION / Christian Rituals & Practice / General

Details

Published
2011
Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN-13
9780230116726
ISBN-10
0230116728
Pages
269
Language
EN