Jesus and Pocahontas: Gospel Mission and National Myth

Most Americans know the story of Pocahontas but not the fact that she was a Christian and the reasons for her dramatic conversion. Pocahontas had a history-altering encounter with Jesus Christ. A key figure was Alexander Whitaker pioneer Anglican missionary in Virginia who taught Pocahontas the Christian faith--but is almost totally unknown today. This story of Pocahontas has never fully been told. Or it has been ridiculed. Yet it is true as this book now documents. In these pages the real Pocahontas comes alive as a flesh-and-blood person with her own thoughts and decisions. This book shows the beauty the romance and the tragedy of Pocahontass short life. It also traces the way the Pocahontas story has been used and misused over the past four hundred years opening the door to the larger issue of the suppression of native peoples in U.S. history. The real story of Pocahontas presents a timely case study both in the history of missions and the history of America--an investigation of the interplay between gospel culture and national mythology. I do not pass out compliments lightly to non-Indian writers who deal with Native American history and culture. In such writings I have seen the worst of paternalism and superiority time and again but happily I am very impressed with Howards work. I think he has a keen understanding of the indigenous and European historical contexts of mission and of the nationalistic American myth. This book really speaks to the church and the nation offering the possibility of a changed worldview. I encourage you to give the Pocahontas story another read from Howard Snyders perspective; I think you will agree that he has begun a new and important conversation one in which I wish to participate! --Randy Woodley Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies George Fox Seminary Portland OR In this book Howard Snyder has succeeded in showing how under the spell of ethnocentrism Pocahontas (1596-1617) became a nationalistic American myth that goes back to the English colonists who arrived in Virginia and founded Jamestown in 1607. Beyond that however he has succeeded in making of the Pocahontas story an insightful case study in the close interrelation that there is between the Christian mission and culture. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a very good incentive to reflect on a subject that is oftentimes overlooked by people involved in missionary work. --C. Rene Padilla President emeritus Kairos Foundation Buenos Aires Argentina This is a book of remarkable scope and clarity: historical narrative cultural criticism theological reflection and missional challenge wrapped up in a masterful retelling of an iconic American story. Snyder recovers the human story of Pocahontas and sets it alongside the story shaped by American mythology and pop culture presenting readers with a fascinating diptych that illumines timely truths about how America began and what America has become--and about Christian witness then and now. --L. Daniel Hawk Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Ashland Theological Seminary Ashland OH Howard A. Snyder is Visiting Director of the Manchester Wesley Research Centre in Manchester England. He has served as a pastor and as a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary (1996-2006) Tyndale Seminary in Toronto (2007-12) and elsewhere. His books include The Problem of Wineskins The Radical Wesley Models of the Kingdom and Salvation Means Creation Healed (with Joel Scandrett).