Translating the Message - The Missionary Impact on Culture by Lamin Sanneh

This book gives much weight to the argument that the missionary enterprise while not perfect was not a colonizing movement (in fact it was opposed by the colonizing countries) but by its support of the vernacular led to nationalism and increased local self esteem.

He argues that Christianity is inherently translated and translatable. That the vernacular is how Christianity is best propagated. Christianity goes into a culture where God has already been! It is translated into the vernacular both linguistic and cultural.

Islam by contrast is not translated and destroys or supplants the vernacular.

This book is full of data and examples. Missionaries should read this. Those who resent missionaries should read this book also. Immensely valuable.