MB520/620: Cultural Anthropology from a Christian Perspective (4 units)

R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of Anthropology and Translation
Spring 2008 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 an increasingly Global 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:

1.  Develop greater understanding of the relevance of anthropological theory.
2.  Connect Anthropological theory to the student’s ministry context.
3.  Develop a Christian perspective of anthropology and an anthropological perspective of Christianity.
4.  Provide a basis for the development of a culturally relevant gospel presentation

 

COURSE FORMAT:

Class will meet once a week for 3-hour evening sessions. Lecture, small group presentations and class discussion will provide a positive atmosphere for applying anthropological principles to the students’ cross cultural experiences.

 

REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

1.  Delaney, Carol.  Investigating Culture. Blackwell, 2004.

2.  Lingenfelter, S. G. & D. J. Hayward.  “Christian Perspectives on Anthropological Theories”  2005, (onCDRom)
3.  Shaw, R. D. From Longhouse to Village. Harcourt Brace, 1995. Distributed by Thomson/Wadsworth.
4.  Shaw, R.D. A Christian Perspective of Anthropology: A Reader. Pasadena: FTS Bookstore, 2008.
5.  Yu, Lai-Shan. Ancestor Worship and Westernization.  A booklet incorporated into Course Reader
6.  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)

1.  Bodley, John H, Anthropology and Contemporary Human Problems, 5th ed.. Altamira, 2008.
2.  Hiebert, Paul, Cultural Anthropology. Baker Books, 1983.
3.  Inda, J.X. and Rosaldo, R.  The Anthropology of Globalization: A Reader. 2nd ed. Blackwell, 2008.
4.  Kraft, Charles,  Anthropology for Christian Witness. Orbis, 1996.
5.  Shaw, R.D. Transculturation. William Carey Library, 1988.
6.  Strauss, C. & N. Quinn, A Cognitive Theory of Cultural Meaning, Cambridge, 1997
7.  Pieterse, Jan N., Globalization & Culture. Rowman & Littlefield, 2004.
8.  Other Anthropology texts by Christian anthropologists: Nida, Customs and Cultures, 1953, Grunlan & Mayers, Cultural Anthropology, 1988, Lingenfelter, Transforming Culture, 1998.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Students should get the Syllabus and Reader from the bookstore or on-line as early as possible and complete the reading for the first week in order to be ready for the first class meeting 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, and two 2000 to 2500-word reports based on the two cultural ethnographies, will provide opportunity for student evaluation throughout the course.

Th.M students add: A 500-word 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.

 

PREREQUISITE: 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 MAICS Core Competency and MIN8 requirement.  Especially designed for students involved in ministry in cross-cultural or pluralist/urban contexts.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.       

 

Note:  This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification.                                   Last Date Edited: 6 March 2008