EM705-6 - The Gospel, Cultural Anthropology, and Ethnographic Methods
-
0 Standard Tuition Fee
-
6Credit Points
-
0.1875 EFT
-
8AQF level
-
evangelism missiolUnit Discipline
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students willA. Know and understand
- The dimensions and scope of cultural anthropology as a missiological discipline
- How an anthropological lens may be employed as a heuristic grid to Interpret ministry situations and practices
- The notion of worldview and its implication for the communication of the Gospel and Christian mission
- A range of approaches to Ethnographic data collection and analysis
- The ethical and emancipatory dimensions of ethnographic research
B. Be able to
- Articulate the benefits of anthropological and ethnographic approaches and for cross-cultural ministry within the wider world.
- Employ a range of ethnographic data collection methods
- Construct a finite piece of culture research using appropriate ethnographic principles.
C. Be in a position to
- Integrate cultural anthropology alongside prior experience and other specialized disciplines as a reflective missional practitioner within cross cultural ministry contexts.
- Independently prepare ethnographic reports and culturally sensitive ministry accounts to inform peers or policy makers in ministry or mission
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
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