MB520:
Cultural Anthropology from a Christian Perspective (4 units)
Sherwood Lingenfelter, Professor
of Anthropology
Winter 2005 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
Students will examine and compare selected writings by Christian anthropologists. Through this comparative reflection, students will gain a deeper understanding of different approaches to cultural anthropology and the applications of cultural theory for understanding cultural and religious diversity in the modern world. Students will also reflect on the strengths and weakness of each approach for applied cultural research to address the challenges of cross-cultural living and ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete the course will have:
• compared and analyzed the
different ways that five Christian anthropologists have constructed theories of
culture and applied them to the study of cross-cultural ministry;
• selected and defended an
approach to the study of culture that they will employ for research in their
ministry context;
• developed a research plan which
applies their preferred theoretical approach to culture to a specific problem in their area of ministry.
COURSE
FORMAT: Class will meet once a week. Lecture, and small group or class
discussions will provide a positive atmosphere for reflection and learning.
REQUIRED READING:
Elmer,
Duane. Cross-cultural Conflict.
InterVarsity Press, 1993
Hiebert,
Paul G. Anthropological Reflections on
Missiological Issues. Baker Book House, 1994
Kraft,
Charles, Anthropology for Christian
Witness. Orbis, 1996.
Lingenfelter,
Sherwood. Agents of
Transformation. Baker Book House, 1996
Shaw,
R.D. Transculturation. William Carey
Library, 1988
ASSIGNMENTS:
•
Students are required to form teams of three or four persons and write two ten
page papers focused on Learning Outcome #1.
• Each
student will also write a 6-8 page
paper on Learning Outcome #2 and a frame a 3-4 page research plan for
Learning Outcome #3.
PREREQUISITE: 3 years of
cross-cultural ministry experience.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets SIS Core Competency in MA ICS program and GLBL requirement. Especially designed for students involved in ministry in cross-cultural or pluralist/urban contexts.
FINAL EXAM: None.