MB520:
Cultural Anthropology from a Christian Perspective (4 units)
R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of
Anthropology and Translation
Winter 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
This course seeks to integrate anthropological principles and Christian witness. The course focuses on the culture concept, models of culture, cultural systems, and the process of culture change. These principles are then applied to the transmission of the Christian message and the growth of Christian communities in any cultural context including urban settings. Course objectives include: develop greater understanding of patterns and processes of culture; develop a Christian perspective of anthropology and an anthropological perspective of Christianity; prepare Christian leaders to consciously employ cultural patterns and processes for Christian mission in any socio-cultural context; and provide a basis for the development of a relevant cultural presentation of the gospel.
COURSE
FORMAT:
Class will meet once
a week. Lecture, videos, and small group discussion will provide a positive
atmosphere for applying anthropological principles to the students’ cross
cultural experiences.
REQUIRED
READING:
J. Peoples and G. Bailey. Humanity:
An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Thomson/Wadsworth, 6th
Edition, 2003.
Shaw, R. D. From Longhouse to Village. Harcourt
Brace, 1995. (Cultural ethnography). Now 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:
Shaw, R.D. Transculturation. William Carey Library,
1988 (Some assignments made)
Kraft, Charles, Anthropology for Christian Witness. Orbis, 1996.
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
groups will meet each week of the course and discussion will focus on the
reading. Weekly reflection papers connecting course material to the students’
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.
PREREQUISITE:
3 years of cross-cultural ministry experience.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets SIS Core Competency. Especially designed for students involved in ministry in cross-cultural or pluralist/urban contexts.
FINAL
EXAMINATION: No.