MS512 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY by Elias dos Santos ...

MS512 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
by
Elias dos Santos Medeiros
COURSE DESIGN
Master of Divinity
Reformed Theological Seminary
Jackson, Mississippi
Fall 2011 A.D.

REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
1MS512 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
PROFESSOR: Dr. Medeiros
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
Cultural Anthropology under the scrutiny of the Scriptures and from a
Reformed perspective.
AMissiology currently appears to be suffering from an acute identity crisis. This
crisis is exacerbated by at least two major factors: the increasing
interdisciplinary nature of missiology and the rapid pace of change in the world
around us. Each of these has significant implications for the church=s
missionary task. While few would oppose in principle the efforts made to draw
upon the valid findings of the various social sciences, there is a mounting
concern among missiologists and other Christian thinkers that
missiology, as a discipline, should be rescued from drifting (and
drowning!) in a sea of social science data and be anchored once again to
its theological foundation@ (Kostenberger, bold added).
Therefore, upon completion of this course you should be able to know and to
demonstrate ability to: (1) understand the history and the current debate
regarding anthropology, cultural/social anthropology, the concept of culture,
worldview, etc, (2) discover the biblical teaching regarding these issues, (3)
understand what these teachings and practices have to do with redemptive
history, (4) how to apply the biblical principles and practices to our personal life
and work as well as to the life and to the work of God's Amissionary@ (sent)
people in this world.
FORMAT
Lectures, case studies presented through videos, ethnographic researches and
presentations, and lively discussions.
TOPICS TO BE CONSIDERED
Introduction
Course DesignBExpectations
Matthew 28 and Acts 1:1-8
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Preliminary Considerations: Readings and Notes
Assumptions/Beliefs
Anthropology, Culture, Worldview, Contextualization
Mission, Missionary, Missionary Work, Mission Field
Cultural Anthropology and Biblical Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology: History, terminology, and issues
Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective
Cultural Anthropology: A Biblical Perspective
Christ and Culture: Current Debate
AConsultation on Gospel and Culture@BThe Willowbank Report
Paul Hiebert
D. A. Carson
James Davison Hunter
Case Studies: Video Documentaries
Do Amissionaries@ destroy Acultures?@
Ethnographic Research and Report
AMultiethnic@ Worship Service to Attend
Understanding a Different Ethnic Group within Islam
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance--AClassroom attendance is for the glory of God and
preparation for the gospel ministry. Students therefore are expected to
attend class sessions. No student should absent himself from classes in order
to fulfill requirements or responsibilities of other classes. Those with absences
may be penalized at the discretion of the professor@ (RTS Catalogue).
SIX (6) ABSENCES:
GRADE F
FOUR (4) ABSENCES: GRADE C+
THREE (3) ABSENCES: GRADE B-
Participation in the classroom activities and discussions.
An ethnographic report regarding the Amultiethnic/cross-cultural@ worship
service and Adialogue@ with a Muslim.

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Required readings: besides the essays/articles/papers distributed in class,
each student is required to read: 1
Brian M. Howell & Jenell William Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology:
A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Consult the RTS Librarian on the subject
Check the following links:
http://smu.edu/anthro/pages/FINAL%20MA%20BIBLIOGRAPHY%20CULTUR
AL.pdf
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/lehman/guides/cultanth.html
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/lehman/guides/cultanth.print.html
http://www.wheaton.edu/intr/Moreau/courses/532/biblio/books.htm
http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/anth/soccult/internet.htm
http://philpapers.org/browse/philosophy-of-anthropology
WEBSITES
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/intro.htm
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/anthro.htm (Check it out)
http://www.acts29network.org/
http://www.theresurgence.com/
http://www.perspectives.org/
http://www.uscwm.org/
http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/bioindex.html (Mission Biographies)
http://www.aims.org/ (Mission Strategies)
http://www.bu.edu/sth/cgcm/index.html
http://www.worldchristiandatabase.org/wcd/default.asp (Mission Statistics)
http://www.newchurches.com/ (Church Planting)
http://www.acu.edu/ministry/centers_institutes/missions.html
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/missions.html
http://www.missiology.org/missionsdictionary.htm
http://www.missiology.org/
http://www.gca.cc/ (Church Planting)
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The reading and the study of theses essays/articles/papers and the
chapters of the required book will be distributed according to the topic to be discussed
during the week.

http://www.strategicnetwork.org/
http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=b&fto=1347 (Biblical
Theology of Missions)
http://www.imb.org/biblicalbasis/ (Biblical Basis of Missions)
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books.htm (Books online)
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Biblical%20Basis%20of%20Missio
ns.pdf
(The Biblical Basis of Missions)
http://www.gutenberg.org/
http://www.acmcnetwork.com/
http://www.asmweb.org/links.htm (Missiology Research Sites)
http://www.bible-researcher.com/links.html
http://www.biblicalfoundations.org (Köstenberger=s webpage and blog)
http://www.everypeople.net/?whichPage=web_missions_resources_taylor_2003.php
http://www.gmi.org/ (Global Mapping International)
http://www.martynmission.cam.ac.uk/Research.htm (Henry Martyn CentreBUnited
Kingdom)
http://www.missiology.org/
http://www.missionresources.com/ (World Christian Resource Directory)
http://www.missionstudies.org/ (International Association for Mission Studies)
http://www.mrd.org/ (Mission Resource Directory)
http://www.religion-online.org/ (Full texts online)
http://www.mislinks.org/topics/theology.htm
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