Cultural Anthropology – A Christian Perspective

Cultural Anthropology – A Christian Perspective
Stephen A. Grunlan and Marvin K. Mayers
Zondervan Publishing House, 1979

Cultural anthropology is not a cure-all for missions. It is just one tool of a well-prepared missionary. However, many Christians misunderstand the role and place cultural anthropology can have in effective ministry,

Since we do not usually expect the Holy Spirit to overrule when we go against natural laws, why do we expect Him to overrule when we go against cultural laws? Just as there is underlying order in nature, so there is underlying order in human behavior.

It helps to build an effective missionary strategy:

1. It gives the missionary understanding of another culture



2. It aids the missionary in entering another culture



3. It facilitates the communicating of the Gospel in another culture



4. It aids in the progress of implanting the church in another culture

Ethnocentrism, allows one to be satisfied and complete as a person within the context of his own culture. In its negative effect, it subtly communicates the superiority of one’s own over all others. The result of ethnocentrism is the reinforcement of one’s own life style, the inability or unwillingness to change, and the subtle demand that others change to become like oneself to be fully accepted.

Pg 44 (Role, Status and Stratification)
When a person becomes a Christian, the person acquires a new status with its rights and duties and a role of expected behavior. Christianity is an achieved status rather than an ascribed one. The Christian, in all cultures, often finds his Christian status brings him into role conflict with one of this other statuses. These conflicts can be overcome by changing some statuses or by modifying role behavior.

Pg 236- 238 (Religion)
Functions of Religion
Religion is found in all societies because it meets universal (social and psychological) needs.
Religion provides emotional support to face the uncertain and often hostile future.
When a man becomes alienated from his society, religion provides a means of reconciliation. In our culture criminals are usually alienated from society. If that person gets “religion”, often he is more quickly accepted back into society.
The second function is transcendental, it provides security and direction.
The third function is sacralization. It legitimizes norms and values.
The fourth function is prophetic. It criticizes norms and values.
The fifth function is identification. It tells us who we are.
The sixth function is maturation. It marks the individual’s passage through life for him and his society.

Is Christianity unique or is it just a religion among religions? Anthropologically, it is a religion among religions.

If the missionary is going to successfully introduce Christianity into another culture, he will have to follow a 3-setp strategy. First, the missionary will have to study the religion of the culture in which he is ministering. The Second step is for the missionary to understand the cultural functions of Christianity within his own culture. And third is to determine the cultural form biblical Christianity should take in order to replace the national’s religion.