EM609 - Cultural Anthropology

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

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. The dimensions of cultural anthropology.
  2. Anthropology for cross cultural ministry.
  3. Ethnography as a methodology for learning about a cultural context.
  4. Selected approaches to cultural anthropology and cross-cultural ministry.

B. Be able to

  1. Explain the value of cultural anthropology in cross-cultural ministry.
  2. Discuss the relation of Christianity and cultural anthropology.
  3. Analyse culture as the setting for cross-cultural ministry.
  4. Use cultural anthropological research and field methods in a case study in cross-cultural ministry.
  5. Evaluate selected approaches to cultural anthropology and cross cultural ministry.

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate perspectives from ‘Cultural Anthropology’ with their other theological studies.
  2. Apply cultural anthropology to cross-cultural mission as a reflective practitioner.

Content

Section A: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

  1. The nature of anthropology, its presuppositions and the concept of culture.
  2. People, culture and society: world views; verbal and non-verbal communication; life cycles and education; kinship, marriage and family; technology and the economy; art and music; political and community leadership; magic, science and religion.
  3. Cultural stability, innovation and change; form, function and meaning.
  4. Anthropological research and field methods.

Section B: Anthropology for Cross-cultural Ministry

  1. Anthropology and the Bible: examples of the structures studied in Section A.
  2. Cultural and anthropological factors that influence church planting and development.
  3. Missionary/national relationships and leadership development in anthropological perspective.
  4. Students undertake an anthropological case study in cross-cultural ministry.

Set Readings

Prescribed

Angeloni, E. (ed.), Annual Editions: Anthropology 05/06 (Guilford, CT: McGraw Hill/Dushkin, 2004).

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

Hiebert, P. G., Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994).

Hiebert, P. G., The Gospel and Human Contexts. Anthropological Explorations for Contemporary Missions (Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Academic, 2009).

Hiebert, P. G., Transforming Worldviews. An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008).

Howell, B. M. & J. Williams, Introducing Cultural Anthropology. A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011).

Kraft, C. H., Anthropology for Christian Witness (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1997).

Kraft, C. H., Worldview for Christian Witness (Pasadena, CA: William Carey, 2008).

Lingenfelter, S., Agents of Transformation: a Guide for Effective Cross-cultural Ministry (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996).

Park, M. A., Introducing Anthropology: An Integrated Approach (2nd ed.; Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill, 2002).

Price, D., Karl Barth’s Anthropology in Light of Modern Thought (Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans, 2002).

Sweet, L. (ed.), The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives. (El Cajon, CA: EmergentYS, 2003).

Womack, M., Being Human: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (2nd ed.; Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001).

Recommended

Hofstede, G. H. and G. J. Hofstede, Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (2nd ed.; Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill, 2005).