Responding to Split-Level Christianity and Folk Religion

182Responding to Split-Level Christianity and Folk Religionsalvation of all people. To him alone bewisdom, honor, power, and glory for everand ever, amen! (Rev. 7:9, 11).End Notes1 Father Jaime Bulatao who referred to it in1962, and later elaborated on the concept in Split-Level Christianity, Manila: Ateneo de Manila,1992)2. [Editor’s note: The authors call this twotierphenomena “religious schizophrenia.” Theyclaim that this has its roots in the modern missionarymovement that largely originated in theWest which was profoundly shaped by the Age ofExploration and the Enlightenment. This is studiedin their book Understanding Folk Religion,especially in the very important first chapter oftheir book: “Split-Level Christianity.”]3. [Editor’s note: This article is a condensedversion of chapters 14 and 15 from their bookUnderstanding Folk Religion: A ChristianResponse to Popular Beliefs and Practices, 1999Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Mich.]4. [Editor’s note: The trinitarian and biblicalconcept of God is presented in Chapter 5 of theirbook.]5. By “middle-zone” is understood a realityof life, beliefs and practices existing between formalreligion on the one hand and science and thenatural world on the other. In Western societiesthis middle-zone is frequently a hidden reality, orworse, an excluded from existence reality. Itincludes this-worldly supernatural realities suchas earthly spirits, magic, evil eye, divination, andthe like.6. Christo-paganism is the older term usedfor syncretism. It was widely used in Latin Americawhere much of folk religion looked Christian(or looked Catholic) on the outside, but where theinside (worldview) remained essentially pagan oranimistic.7. Jonathan Edwards was involved in a greatrevival in which there were many experiences,both positive and negative. In the process hedeveloped a number of criteria for discerning thework of God in a person’s life. (Edwards 1959)8. Those who expect to find in UnderstandingFolk Religion strategies for quick solutions tothe problems raised by folk religions will be disappointed.Ministry is built on principles, not formulas.Transformative ministries have to do withthe particular. The gospel is truth for people livingin specific places and times, and caught intheir own dilemmas. In dealing with folk religionsit is important to remember that they areincredibly diverse. There are many kinds ofwitchcraft, divination, spirit possession, andmagic, and each requires a biblical response thatdeals with its particular nature. Specific missiologicalanswers must be formulated in specificcontexts. Our book does not provide readyanswers to the many different beliefs and practicesof folk religions around the world. It seeksto provide a conceptual framework wherebyChristians can think biblically about folk religionsthey encounter.References CitedBulatao, Jaime C. 1992. Phenomena andTheir Interpretation: Landmark Essays 1957-1989. Manila: Ateneo de Manila.Edwards, Jonathan. 1959. Religious Affections.New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press.Gilchrist, E. 1987. Bab Farid. Outreach toIslam. III: 31-33.Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.1978. The Willowbank Report: Report on aConsultation on Gospel and Culture. Wheaton:Lausanne Occasion Papers No. 2.Lingenfelter, Sherwood. 1998. TransformingCulture: A Challenge for Christian Mission.Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.Peterson, Eugene. 1994, Subversive Spirituality.Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.Williamson, Sidney G. 1965. Akamba Religionand the Christian Faith. Accra: Ghana UniversitiesPress.[Editor’s note: This article has beenextracted and edited from Understanding FolkReligion published last year by Baker BookHouse, Grand Rapids, Mich. Permission granted.]PhotohereofDr. HiebertPhotohereofDr. ShawPhotohereofDr. TiénouDr. Paul Hiebertis professor ofmission andanthropology atTrinityEvangelicalDivinitySchool.Dr. Daniel Shawis professor ofanthropology andtranslation atFullerTheologicalSeminary.Dr. Tite Tiénouis professor oftheology ofmission atTrinityEvangelicalDivinitySchool.Ad byAmeriTribes(rerun)If space is needed,it’s OK todeletebottom IJFMlogo lineAd byTyndale CollegeandSeminary“InterculturalMinistriesCentre”(Ad rerun frompage 127 of lastissue)Ad byGospel Recordings(rerun)International Journal of Frontier Missions