Non Fiction

Life and Work of Dr. J.TH. Van Der Kemp 1747 - 1811 : Missionary pioneer and protagonist of racial equality in South Africa

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Overview: Johannes Theodorus Van der Kemp (1747 - 1811) was the most gifted and controversial figure in the history of Dutch missionary activity. He was well versed in a remarkable variety of fields, including the military, medical and physical sciences, philosophy, theology and modern, classical and eastern languages. His life, in the turbulent period before and after 1800, is marked by a kaleidoscopic succession of events and developments. Wide-spread bewilderment and fierce criticism resulted from his non-conformism. During the initial period of the new missionary movement, he fulfilled a role of unique consequence: he was the founder of the Netherlands Missionary Society, and pioneered the missionary work of the London Missionary Society amongst the Xhosa and the Khoikhoi in South Africa. In South Africa and elsewhere attention has been mainly directed to Van der Kemp's labour in Bethelsdorp, his clash with the colonists (Boers), and his conflict with the local and Cape authorities. The author described in detail Van der Kemp's spiritual development during his younger years in Holland, Scotland and England, thus allowing a better understanding of his complicated character. Furthermore much attention is paid to his stay in 'Caffraria', which failed as a missionary enterprise, but still provides much information on his merits as an explorer and as a builder of human relationships with the Xhosa. The detailed story is then told of Van der Kemp's hard fight on behalf of the distressed Khoikhoi entrusted to his care in Bethelsdorp. A lengthy evaluation chapter presents a survey of the various positive and (mostly) negative criticisms devoted to Van der Kemp's personality, attitude and work, leads up to a tentative final assessment by the author. It is true that Van der Kemp's character and behaviour caused much bitterness and discord in the conflict-ridden relationship between the young mission and the established order of the Boer colony; his missionary policies and practices were strongly rejected by many. Nevertheless Van der Kemp's firm stand for anti-apartheid and his struggle to achieve freedom and equality for the coloured peple of South Africa were of exceptional value. The goal that the author has set himself in this biography, is to offer a conscientious historical missionary study about the life and work of Doctor Van der Kemp, correctly set in the perspective of his time, and based on all available sources in Holland, England and South Africa.

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Ketersediaan

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

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No. Panggil

266.0092 En49l

Penerbit

Rotterdam, The Netherlands : A.A. Balkema., 1988

Deskripsi Fisik

234

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

90 6191 757 3

Klasifikasi

266.0092

Tipe Isi

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Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

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Subjek

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Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

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Versi lain/terkait

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