Final answer:
The idea of comity influenced missionary strategy by leading to the division of global mission fields among various missionary societies to avoid overlap, which was instrumental in the organized spreading of Christianity and the European civilizations' influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In what way did the idea of comity affect missions strategy? Notably, comity in the context of missionary strategy relates to the consideration and respect different missionary societies showed towards one another, primarily dictating that a particular geographic or ethnic area would be the responsibility of a single mission society to avoid overlap and competition. The concept largely led to d) The assignment of each of the major mission societies to a different area of the world, allowing for better organization and focus in the mission field. This helped prevent conflict between societies and aimed to enhance the effectiveness of reaching out to non-Christian populations with the Christian message, education, and aspects of modern civilization.
Historical accounts suggest that missionary work was also used to consolidate European influence over indigenous populations. By channeling their efforts into separate territories, missionaries could more thoroughly infuse the local cultures with the language, values, and religious beliefs of their respective European sponsors. It was not only a religious endeavor but also had socio-political ramifications in the expansion of European imperialism.