EM033-812 - The Gospel, Cultural Anthropology, and Ethnographic Methods
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2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
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12Credit Points
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0.125 EFT
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8AQF level
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Category advanced unitC
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evangelism missiolUnit Discipline
Exclusions
Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code EM705-4. Unit exclusions: EM030-612, EM030-712, EM030-812
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students willA. Know and understand
1. Demonstrate Advanced knowledge and understanding of, and the research underlying, cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline
B. Be able to
1. Examine recent scholarship on cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline
2. Demonstrate skill in utilising diverse scholarship in the application of anthropological and ethnographic approaches to cross cultural ministry
3. Present Research-Aware evidence-based perspectives on cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline, including ethnographic reports
C. Be in a position to
1. Applying Advanced perspectives and skills from ‘The Gospel, Cultural Anthropology and Ethnographic Research Methods’ to cross-cultural ministry practice and Christian living as a reflective practitioner
Content
- Anthropological assumptions regarding the culture construct
- Foundational Anthropological concerns; boundaries of people groups, world views, levels of culture, artefacts, symbols and beliefs
- Issues negotiated within culture such as, kinship and marriage, life-cycles, rituals and rites of passage, leadership and deference, morality, honour and shame, fear-power, boundary maintenance, magic, myth and religion
- Innovation, conformity, worldview change and religious conversion
- Approaches to ethnographic research and research design including data gathering techniques in the field; including, observation, collaboration, interviews and selecting participants
- Approaches to Ethnographic analysis; domains, thematic, taxonomic, …
- The ethics of research and cultural immersion: the impact of missionary presence in research or ministry, including participant checking and the ownership of the research product
- Presenting an ethnographic report and issues of the intended audience.
Set Readings
This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.
Prescribed:
Hiebert, P G. The Gospel and Human Contexts, Anthropological Explorations for Contemporary Missions, Ada MI, Baker, 2009
Recommended:
Angrosino, M. Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects for Ethnographic Data Collection, Long Grove, Waveland, 2006
Bevans, S (Ed.). Mission and Culture : The Louis J. Luzbetak Lectures, Maryknoll, Orbis, 2012
Callan, H & Street, B Introductory Readings in Anthropology, Oxford, UK, 2013
Gray, A, Research Practice for Cultural Studies: Ethnographic Methods and Lived Cultures, Thousand Oaks, Sage, 2002
Hiebert, P G. Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2008
Jackson, J. Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication, Oxford, Routledge, 2014
Kraft, C H. Anthropology for Christian Witness, Maryknoll NY, Orbis, 1997
Lassiter, L E. The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography, University of Chicago Press, 2005
Lingenfelter, S. Agents of Transformation: A Guide for Effective Cross-cultural Ministry, Grand Rapids, Baker 1996
Luzbatek, L J. The Church and Cultures : An Applied Anthropology for the Religious Worker, Whitefish MT, Literary Licensing, 2012
Moschella, M C. Ethnography as Pastoral Practice: An Introduction, Cleveland, Pilgrim Press, 2008
Scharen, C & Vigen, A M. Ethnography as Christian Theology and Ethics, Continuum, New York, 2011
Schensul, J & Le Compte, D. Essential Ethnographic Methods: A Mixed Method Approach, 2nd Revised Edition, California, Alta Mira Press, 2012
Shorter, A. Toward a Theology of Inculturation, Eugene, Wipf and Stock, 2006
Smith, D. Make Haste Slowly: Growing Effective Intercultural Communication (2nd Ed) NL, Books On Creating Understanding, 2011