As missiologists begin to understand and appropriate the worldview concept, there is an increasing need to develop a methodology for discovering the worldview of a particular society. This course is designed to take students step by step through a procedure for discovering worldview. The language-based methodology develops through several stages of analysis working from the surface structure to the deep structure of a worldview. Ultimately the objective is to discover the core themes of a society from the perspective of those who hold to and use them in their daily lives. Having developed that kind of understanding, we then explore ways to utilize this information as an effective missiological tool.

• Ability to apply Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence to data.
• Ability to collect and analyze data as per Spradley’s DRS.
• Ability to make a connection between analyzed worldview themes and missional objectives.

This course will meet one evening a week for three hours. Lecture, discussion, and classroom presentations in a seminar atmosphere will provide the framework for interaction with the topic.

Kearney, M. World View. 1984, Chandler & Sharp
Spradley, J.P. Participant Observation, 1980. Harcourt Brace.
OR Spradley, J.P. The Ethnographic Interview. 1979, Harcourt Brace
Shaw, R.D. Course Syllabus. 1998, FTS

Helpful: Background information and Case Studies, helpful for assignments. See Library Reserve
Kraft, C.H., Worldview for Christian Witness. (Mss. In Process).
Shaw, R.D., Transculturation. 1988, Wm Carey Library.
Spradley & McCurdy, The Cultural Experience, 1972.
Spradley & McCurdy, Conformity and Conflict, 1984.
Spradley & Rynkiewich, The Nacirema: Reading on American Culture. 1975.
Walsh & Middleton, The Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian World View. 1984. IVP

Readings as assigned with accompanying reading log. Students will write a term paper applying methods and principles learned in the course to a specific field context of their choosing. How this understanding assists in the missiological task will form the conclusion to the paper. Each student will make a presentation in class based on research that will apply to the writing of a term paper.
Th.M students: Add a 500 word paper indicating how this course content fits into the conceptualization, research and writing of the student’s Research/Writing Project.
Doctoral Students: This course is often used by doctoral students as a methods course for analyzing cultural data. Doctoral students will be expected to critique the theoretical structures and evaluate them for missiological application and/or relevance to their dissertation topic. An addendum to the methods section of their research design will be added to the written assignments for this course. They will make a presentation relating their chosen research focus, showing the rationale, theoretical objectives and missiological implications to their particular research.

MB520 (Anthropology Core)
MB525 (Worldview and Worldview Change, not required but very helpful. Extra reading required if course not taken)