Leiden University Student Repository

Fonk, Jeffrey (2023)

Missionary work in Dutch Borneo: Entwined objectives of state and church

Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA)

From the 1900s, the Dutch state wanted to expand its territories to the Outer Islands. This expansion drift was mainly commercially driven but came together with a new policy, focused on civilizing the indigenous people, which was called the ethical policy. To civilize the local people, education and healthcare in the Dutch East Indies had to be developed and improved. Next to education and healthcare, also developing infrastructure projects with new roads, ports and railway connections were part of the policy. For the execution of schooling and healthcare a suitable party had to be found. It seemed that the Church and its missionaries were a perfect fit. The Church wanted to spread Christianity in all places possible, even in the more remote places in the world, which fitted the expansion plans of the Dutch towards the Outer Islands. Both parties had their own objectives but in reality, they needed each other. The government wanted to expand its business and enforce the ethical...Show moreFrom the 1900s, the Dutch state wanted to expand its territories to the Outer Islands. This expansion drift was mainly commercially driven but came together with a new policy, focused on civilizing the indigenous people, which was called the ethical policy. To civilize the local people, education and healthcare in the Dutch East Indies had to be developed and improved. Next to education and healthcare, also developing infrastructure projects with new roads, ports and railway connections were part of the policy. For the execution of schooling and healthcare a suitable party had to be found. It seemed that the Church and its missionaries were a perfect fit. The Church wanted to spread Christianity in all places possible, even in the more remote places in the world, which fitted the expansion plans of the Dutch towards the Outer Islands. Both parties had their own objectives but in reality, they needed each other. The government wanted to expand its business and enforce the ethical policy, the missionaries could use government funding to spread the word of God. The main research question of this thesis is: To what extent did the mission in Dutch Borneo met the objectives of both Dutch government and Catholic church?Show less

missionary work

zending

mission

catholic mission

dutch east indies

kalimantan

borneo

Author

Fonk, Jeffrey

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Arps, B.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en