EM608 - Cross-cultural Communication

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Exclusions

EM632.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. The dimensions of cross-cultural communication.
  2. The relationship between culture, the Bible and communicating the gospel.
  3. Selected approaches to cross-cultural communication.

B. Be able to

  1. Explain developments in the history of Christian mission.
  2. Analyse the principles and patterns involved in cross-cultural Christian ministry.
  3. Assess their own communication activity and skills with particular reference to cross-cultural ministry contexts.
  4. Engage with the cultural values of people from other cultures.
  5. Evaluate selected approaches to cross-cultural communication.

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate perspectives from ‘Cross Cultural Communication’ with their other theological studies.
  2. Apply the principles and dynamics of cross-cultural communication as a reflective practitioner.
  3. Formulate a contextualised approach to communicating the gospel for at least two particular cultural settings.

Content

  1. Theories and models of cross-cultural communication: Culture (Nida); Incarnational (Kraft); Bonding (Brewster & Brewster); Christ and Culture (Niebuhr).
  2. World views and their significance for cross-cultural communication, with reference to: naturalist; animist; folk religion; Hindu-Buddhist; Chinese; monotheist; syncretistic and multi-religious world-views.
  3. Cognitive processes: conceptual, intuitional, concrete relational; language and communication; cultural distance and audience response.
  4. Behavioural patterns: cultural norms and values; body language, space, time, para-language, artefacts and the environment.
  5. The influence of social structures on communication; indigenous modes of communication: music; drama; sports; puppetry etc.
  6. Media influences: media and message; audience response.
  7. Contextualisation:
  • Its necessity; biblical mandate and examples;
  • The process of contextualisation: criteria, stage and limitations;
  • Cultural examples of contextualisation critically evaluated.

Set Readings

Prescribed

Claydon, D., Connecting Across Cultures (Melbourne: Acorn Press, 2000).

Claydon, D (ed.), A New Vision, A New Heart, A Renewed Call ( Pasadena: William Carey, 2005).

Bevans, S. B., Models of Contextual Theology Rev. ed. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2004).

Burnett, D., Clash of Worlds (London: Monarch, 2002).

Carson, D. A. (ed.), Biblical Interpretation and the Church: The Problem of Contextualization (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2002).

Elmer, D., Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting in Around the World (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002).

Fleming, D. E., Contextualisation in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2005).

Hesselgrave, D. J., Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991).

Hesselgrave, D. J. and E. Rommen, Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, Models (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2000).

Kraft, C. H., Culture, Communication, and Christianity: A Selection of Writings (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2001).

Lingenfelter, J. E. and S. G. Lingenfelter, Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnation Model for Learning and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003).

Lingenfelter, S. G. and M. K. Mayers, Ministering Cross-culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003).

Sweet, L. (ed.), The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003).

Weaver, G., Culture, Communication and Conflict: Readings in Intercultural Relations (Boston: Pearson, 2000).

Recommended

Gilliland, D. S. (ed.), The Word Among Us: Contextualizing Theology for Mission Today (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2002).

Hofstede, G. H. and G. J. Hofstede, Cultures and Organizations: Software of the mind (2nd ed.; New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005).

Sire, J. W., Naming the Elephant: Worldview As a Concept (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004).