CHRISTIAN MISSION AND MALAY LANGUAGE EVANGELICAL LITERATURE (1819-1961) IN COLONIAL SINGAPORE - ORIGINS, IMPACT AND MALAY-MUSLIM RESPONSES

Abstract

This thesis investigates the history of Protestant Missionary work among Malay-Muslims in Singapore, under British Colonialism. It traces the attempts to establish a Christian congregation of Malays throughout the 19th Century and early 20th. It historically connects the pre-19th Century presence at Malacca of Catholic Portuguese and Protestant Dutch with the Singapore Narrative. Because Missionary agents produced literature to spread their message, a survey will be done on 4 samples from the Methodists. The social impact of the Missionaries and their literary productions on the Malay-speaking peoples will be addressed, including the Malay-Muslim responses to “proselytization” during colonial times. An examination of the social history of Christian mission to the Malays show that the accepted narrative of inevitable conflict isn’t true. Rather relationships between Missionaries and Malay Muslims were complex and often fruitful. An examination of this history gives basis for hope to the future of Christian-Muslim relations.