William Carey

An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens William Carey

The landmark text by William Carey sets out the principles of converting natives of foreign lands to Christianity.

An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens led directly to the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, and was to inspire Christian missionaries for generations to follow. The author himself could boast great experience: having amassed oratorical experience during his younger years as a schoolmaster, and as the pastor of Leicester's Harvey Lane Baptist Church.

The text contains impassioned arguments which attempt to justify missionary work, followed by a researched history of the practice. Later, Carey discusses charts which measure populations through the world and their religious beliefs. All of these charts are reproduced for this edition, allowing the reader insight into Carey's ambitious approach.

After publishing this text, Carey put his words into practice, spending decades following his famous essay's publication journeying through colonial India. He founded one of the country's first universities, and worked to spread the gospel of Christianity to numerous villages and towns in the subcontinent.

Variously praised for his ideals of social reform, and lambasted for his unstinting commitment to colonial methods, Carey's most famous text is a superb entry point to his mind and undertakings.