واکنش علمای شیعه به فعالیت‌های مذهبی مبلغان مسیحی اروپایی در اوایل دورة قاجاریه

Abstract: From the beginning of the 16th century, a Shia government was established in Iran during which powerful European and Christian governments appeared in its southern borders. As a consequence, the religious missioners of these countries could facilely and effortlessly step onto Iran`s soil with the support of their governments. During the subsequent centuries, missioners were one of the most suitable organizations for influencing Iran`s culture. For this purpose, Catholic and Protestant missionaries tried different political and religious approaches. Europeans' resounding and considerable success in conquering historical and new (contemporary and recent) continents as well as the propagation of Christianity during that period spawned the use of incursive methods for their propaganda in Iran. The translation of holy texts of Christianity into Persian as well as writing books running athwart Islamic beliefs and engendering dubitation among Muslims started in Safavid dynasty, however, these exercises reached to the zenith and peak owing to the intensification of competitions among colonialist governments. This research aims to analyze some priests` books and statements (especially Henry Martin`s) disproving and discrediting Shia`s beliefs and also how Shia scholars and clergies responded to them by writing theories confuting Christian missionaries.