I argue that an examination of Christian missionary responses to prostitution in Thailand illustrates that not only must the field of missiology take seriously the critiques of Orientalism, but that these challenges require a radical rethinking of the appropriateness of the very notion of Christian missions. In the essay, I (1) provide a theoretical framework; (2) profile three missionary responses to prostitution in Thailand; (3) assess the missionary responses through the theoretical framework; and (4) explicate my conclusions. Under-girding my entire examination is a multi-layered probe of the question: is the missionary impulse inherently Orientalist?
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GreenPatricia1996“The Women of Pat Pong Rahab Ministries: An Outreach Program to Women Working in Prostitution in Bangkok.”News on Healthcare in Developing Countries.11–14.
OdzerCleo1994Patpong Sisters: An American Woman's View of the Bangkok Sex World.New York: Arcade Publishing.
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MinistriesRahab n/d “Rahab Ministries Bangkok, Thailand: Seeking To Help Women Engaged In Prostitution to Find New Life in Christ” (pamphlet produced by Rahab Ministries).
