EM033-912 - The Gospel, Cultural Anthropology, and Ethnographic Methods

  • 2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 9
    AQF level
  • Category advanced unit
    C
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Prerequisites

48 cps Level 8

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code EM705-6. Unit exclusions: EM030-612, EM030-712, EM030-812

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. Demonstrate Specialised knowledge and understanding of, and research principles and methods used in, cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline

B. Be able to

1. Evaluate Specialised methods and issues in cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline

2. Integrate diverse scholarship and ministry experience in the application of anthropological and ethnographic approaches to cross cultural ministry

3. Present independent Research-Driven perspectives on cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline, including ethnographic reports
 

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying research-based 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

  1. Anthropological assumptions regarding the culture construct
  2. Foundational Anthropological concerns; boundaries of people groups, world views, levels of culture, artefacts, symbols and beliefs
  3. 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
  4. Innovation, conformity, worldview change and religious conversion
  5. Approaches to ethnographic research and research design including data gathering techniques in the field; including, observation, collaboration, interviews and selecting participants
  6. Approaches to Ethnographic analysis; domains, thematic, taxonomic, …
  7. 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
  8. 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