THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANIZATION: EDUCATION AS THE FIRST STEP OF SPREADING THE RELIGION IN BATAVIA IN THE 17TH CENTURY

Indonesia’s history cannot be separated from the role of the Dutch who came to the Archipelago since the 17th century along with their missionaries. Since the Dutch’s arrival in Batavia, Dutch missionaries contributed a great deal of Christianization in Asia. The year 1620 was the first step of establishing ecclesiastical in Batavia. In conjunction with the development of Christianity, the Dutch also provided education for local people in the process of Christianization in Asia. This paper discusses, first, the early development of church; second, the interaction between the pastors and the locals; third, provision education by Dutch missionaries as an effort to Christenize to the locals; and fourth, the outcome of Christianization in Batavia.