EM705-4 - The Gospel, Cultural Anthropology, and Ethnographic Methods

  • 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 and scope of cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline
  2. How an anthropological lens may be employed as a heuristic grid to Interpret ministry situations and practices
  3. The notion of worldview and its implication for the communication of the Gospel and Christian mission
  4. A range of approaches to Ethnographic data collection and analysis
  5. The ethical and emancipatory dimensions of ethnographic research

B. Be able to

  1. Articulate the benefits of anthropological and ethnographic approaches and for cross-cultural ministry within the wider world.
  2. Employ a range of ethnographic data collection methods
  3. Construct a finite piece of culture research using appropriate ethnographic principles.

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate cultural anthropology alongside prior experience and other specialized disciplines as a reflective missional practitioner within cross cultural ministry contexts.
  2. Independently prepare ethnographic reports and culturally sensitive ministry accounts to inform peers or policy makers in ministry or mission

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

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