EM009-812 - Cultural Anthropology

  • 3,162 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • Category developing unit
    B
  • Evangelism & Missiology Unit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Advanced knowledge and understanding of, and the research underlying, cultural anthropology and its implications for cross cultural ministry.

B. Be able to

1. Examine the role of cultural anthropology in relation to cross cultural ministry

2. Demonstrate skill in using ethnography as a methodology for learning about a cultural context

3. Present Research-Aware evidence-based perspectives on cultural anthropology

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying perspectives and skills from ‘Cultural Anthropology’ to cross cultural ministry practice 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.

Further Information

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code EM609.

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:

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).