MB520:
Cultural Anthropology from a Christian Perspective (4 units)
R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of Anthropology and
Translation
Winter 2006 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This course
seeks to integrate anthropological principles and Christian witness. It brings
together anthropological theory and the student’s cultural experience in an
attempt to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of themselves in a
culturally diverse world. Course principles are then applied to the
transmission of the Christian message in order to encourage the transformation
of communities in any cultural context including urban settings.
COURSE
OUTCOMES:
· Develop greater
understanding of the relevance of anthropological theory.
·
Develop a Christian perspective of anthropology and an anthropological
perspective of Christianity.
·
Prepare Intercultural workers to consciously employ cultural awareness in any
socio-religious context.
·
Provide a basis for the development of a culturally relevant gospel
presentation.
COURSE FORMAT:
Class will meet once a week. Lecture, videos, and small group presentations and class discussion will provide a positive atmosphere for applying anthropological principles to the students’ cross cultural experiences.
REQUIRED READING:
Delaney, Carol. Investigating
Culture. Blackwell, 2004.
Lingenfelter, S. G. & D. J. Hayward. “Christian Perspectives on
Anthropological Theories” 2005,
(onCDRom).
Shaw, R. D. From Longhouse to Village. Harcourt
Brace, 1995. Distributed by Thomson/Wadsworth.
Shaw, R.D. A Christian Perspective of
Anthropology: A Reader. Pasadena: FTS Bookstore, 2004.
A cultural ethnography of student’s choice from the library. Choose from the
more than 150 titles in the GN4 C37 section of the library.
RECOMMENDED READING: (On Library Reserve—readings will be assigned from all)
Hiebert,
Paul, Cultural Anthropology. Baker
Books, 1983.
Kraft, Charles, Anthropology for Christian Witness. Orbis, 1996.
Shaw, R.D. Transculturation. William
Carey Library, 1988.
Pieterse, Jan N., Globalization & Culture. Rowman
& Littlefield, 2004.
Other Anthropology texts by Christian anthropologists: Nida, Customs and Cultures, 1953, Grunlan
& Mayers, Cultural Anthropology, 1988, Lingenfelter, Transforming Culture, 1998.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Due to holidays during Winter Quarter, there will be no class meeting the first and third weeks of the term. Therefore, reading will be heavily weighted to allow reflection and discussion during the remainder of the course. Students should get the Syllabus and Reader from the bookstore as early as possible and complete the reading for the first week in order to be ready for the first class meeting (the second week of the term). Assigned reading groups will meet (outside of class) each week and make at least one presentation connecting anthropological theory and missional practice. Weekly reflection papers connecting course material to the students’ own cross cultural experiences, a reading log, response sheets to videos, and two eight to ten-page reports based on the two cultural ethnographies, will provide opportunity for student evaluation throughout the course.
Th.M students add: A two-page paper indicating how this course content fits into
the conceptualization, research and writing for your writing project. Read one
book in lieu of Yu that applies anthropological insight to the topic or region
of the world in focus in the Thesis.
PREREQUISITES: 3 years of cross-cultural
ministry experience that will provide the cultural input for evaluating
anthropological issues for that cultural context.
RELATIONSHIP TO
CURRICULUM: Meets SIS Core Competency and GLBL requirement. Especially designed
for students involved in ministry in cross-cultural or pluralist/urban
contexts.