Religion in China: Major Concepts and Minority Positions Edited by MaxDeegand BernhardScheid. Vienna, Austria: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2015. Pp. xiii + 239. Paper, €51.00 (original) (raw)

2017, Religious Studies Review

is a towering and at times controversial figure in the early history of Christianity in both Australia and New Zealand. For many years Marsden was the senior clergyman in the New South Wales penal colony. He was also a key public figure who made substantial contributions to social and economic life in the colonynotably as a magistrate, and in agriculture, education, and philanthropy. An evangelical, Marsden was an enthusiastic promoter of foreign missions. Through this avenue he became an influential figure in the wider region; in Polynesia, through his role as Pacific agent for the Missionary Society (later the London Missionary Society), and in New Zealand as the initiator and overseer of the Church Missionary Society's mission to M aori. Marsden has attracted considerable attention already. This book is now the standard biography. It is an extraordinary work of breadth, erudition, and generosity. Sharp rightly notes that previous interpreters have tended to focus on Marsden's character, whether to elucidate supposed flaws or to laud or exonerate him. Eschewing this approach, Sharp focuses on Marsden's opinions. The result is a rich, subtle, and ultimately sympathetic account. The work provides a detailed examination of Marsden's actions and views, locating his opinions within their contemporary context and a wider world of thought. Notably, this includes a careful examination of Marsden's evangelicalism, and his various connections and milieux, extending to England, Australasia, and the South Seas. This range is remarkable, and indicates the volume's significance for a wide assortment of scholars and readers. Sharp's account is thorough, rigorous, and illuminating throughout. This is an impressive book, and highly recommended.