M.Th. Missiology · Source-based learning

Miss 16: Gospel and Culture

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Area D · Theology and Praxis of Mission · Miss 16

Gospel and Culture

M.Th. Missiology · Source syllabus with original formative learning enrichment

Course focus from source objectives

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The purpose of the course is to guide the students to the knowledge that there is no gospel without culture and that both will always be intertwined, because no pure gospel can be taught. At the beginning inspiration was taken in India from the religion of the leading people, now inspiration is coming from the people at the margins who do on many occasions inculturation/ contextualization today themselves in liturgy, music, dance, festivals etc.

Course objectives

Source methods and requirements

Reproduced source instructions, not newly scheduled LMS deadlines or extra formative assessments.

Method of Teaching

Combination of lectures and seminars which consists of paper presentations, critical responses and group discussions. In addition to lectures and paper presentations, the students should do one own research in their own churches on inculturation e.g. on a festival, music, dance, pilgrimage, marriage custom etc. and write a marked paper about it. Where possible like in Bangalore visit an indigenized mass.

Official source evaluation

Preserved from this course’s Word document, not replaced by the practice quiz.

Verbatim assessment statements, not automatically configured grade weights. Separate statements and any conflicting figures are not added together. Any percentages inside a final-exam statement describe its internal composition.

3. Method of Evaluation

1) Written examination - 60% 2) Seminar and paper presentation and class participation - 40%

Course arrangements

Source credit value: 2 credits. Semester, faculty, dates, deadlines and individual registrations require AGBS confirmation. Source unit numbers are retained even where repeated; they are not a weekly timetable.

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Original AGBS learning enrichment

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Course topics

Reflect

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How do you distinguish observing a cultural practice from evaluating it through a theological lens? Explain how your own position and the voices of participants affect the interpretation.

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Create and collaborate

Develop a culture-and-interpretation research portfolio

Choose a source-listed cultural expression using approved public material or a faculty-authorised, consent-based observation. Compare interpretations, acknowledge limits and prepare a seminar brief with a peer-response revision. Do not treat an observation suggestion as permission to collect private information.

1. Prepare
Read the relevant source unit and record your evidence.
2. Make
Create a draft, diagram, dialogue or teaching resource.
3. Revisit
Invite peer feedback in class; revise and explain what changed.

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Check your understanding

Which source requirement is retained separately from the studio?

Automatic permission for unrestricted field researchA new live deadline invented by the portalA contextual church-practice research/visit suggestion

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Miss 16 Gospel and Culture

Amazing Grace Biblical Seminary — M.Th. Missiology

Area D: Theology and Praxis of Mission Miss. 16: Gospel and Culture College Examined 2 Credits Course Content: Purpose and Goals: The purpose of the course is to guide the students to the knowledge that there is no gospel without culture and that both will always be intertwined, because no pure gospel can be taught. At the beginning inspiration was taken in India from the religion of the leading people, now inspiration is coming from the people at the margins who do on many occasions inculturation/ contextualization today themselves in liturgy, music, dance, festivals etc. Method of Teaching: Combination of lectures and seminars which consists of paper presentations, critical responses and group discussions. In addition to lectures and paper presentations, the students should do one own research in their own churches on inculturation e.g. on a festival, music, dance, pilgrimage, marriage custom etc. and write a marked paper about it. Where possible like in Bangalore visit an indigenized mass. 3. Method of Evaluation: 1) Written examination - 60% 2) Seminar and paper presentation and class participation - 40% Course Outline: Explanation of the terms accommodation, inculturation (intentional and unintentional according to Collins). Explanation of the terms contextualization/indigenization and indianisation. Inculturation/contextualization and the Bible. The rites controversy with Rome e.g. Robert de Nobili, Matteo Ricci, Beschi. The II. Vatican and inculturation Contextualization: Theology and Issues involved Inculturation in art, architecture and music. 7. Inculturation in festivals, pilgrimages and religious customs 8. Inculturation/contextualisation in theology e.g. Sadu Sunder Singh, Michael Amaladoss, 9. Option for inculturation/contextualization/indeginzation/indianisation from the perspective of Dalits, Tribals, Traditional people, Women and the little traditions 10. Boundaries and limits of inculturation/contextualisation and the universality of Christianity Globalisation, creation of uniform cultures or hybrid cultures Mon-cultural and Multi Cultural Perspectives Selected Bibliography: Amaladass, Anand. Gudrun Löwner. Christian Themes in Indian Art from the Mogul Times till Today. Delhi: Manohar 2012. Amaladoss, Michael. Beyond Inculturation: Can the Many be one? Delhi: ISPCK, 1998 Amaladoss, Michael. The Asian Jesus. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2005; Maryknoll (NY): Orbis Books, 2006. Balia, Daryl M, Kirsteen Kim ed., Witnessing to Christ Today. Regnum Books: Oxford (Regnum Edinburgh 2010 Series) Collins, Paul, M. Christian Inculturation in India. Liturgy, Worship and Society. Aldershot: Ashgate 2007. England, John C. etc. ed. A Research Guide to Authors, Movements, Sources: Asian Region, South Asia Vol I. Orbis Books/ ISPCK: New York, New Delhi, 2006 Flanner, Austin ed. The Documents of Vatican II. The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents. Tenburgy wells: Fowler Wright, 1975 on line: http: //www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/ George, P.T. Missionary Pragmatism, No-People to God's People. Delhi, ISPCK, 2013. Kanjamata, Augustine, Siga Arles. The Future of Christian Mission in India. Towards a New Paradigm for the Third Millenium. Eugene: Pickwick Publishers, 2014. Lott, Eric, Jyoti Sahi. Faces of Vision. Images of Life and Faith. Christian Aware 2008 Mattam, Mar Abraham. Inculturation of the Liturgy in the Indian context. Vadavathoor, Kottayam: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies 1991. Mosse, David. The Saint in the Banyan Tree: Christianity and Caste Society in India. Berkley, Los Angeles etc.: University of California 2012. Sahi, Jyoti. Holy Ground. A New approach to the Mission of the Church in India. Auckland: Pace Publishing, 1998. Wilfred, Felix. The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014. Additional Bibliography Amalorpavadass, O.S..Inculturation is not Hindunisation but Christinisation. Bangalore: NBCLC 1981 Anchukandam, Thomas. Roberto de Nobili's Responsiso [1610]: a vindication of inculturation and adaption. Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 1996. Baskaran, S. Theodore. Christian Folk Songs of Tamil Nadu. Religion and Society no. 32,2, 1989, pp. 83-92. Brown, Rick. Contextualization without Syncretism. Journal of Frontier Missions 2006, pp. 127-122. Butler, John F. Christian Art in India. Madras: CLS, 1986 Coe, Shoki. Contextualizing Theology. Mission Trends 3, Asian, African, and Latin American Contributions to a Radical, theological realignment in the Church, ed. Gerald H. Anderson and Thomas E. Stransky, Erdmans: Grand Rapids 1976, pp. 19-24. Cronin, Vincent. A Pearl to India: The Life of Roberto de Nobili. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co, 1959. Griffiths, Bede. The New Creation in Christ: Christian Meditation and Community, London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1992. De Nobili Research Centre, Madras. Interculturation of religion: critical perspectives on Robert de Nobili's mission in India. Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2007. Harper, Susan Billington. In the Shadow of the Mahatma: Bishop V.S. Azariah and the Travails of Christianity in British India. Grand Rapids and Cambridge: Wm Eerdmans & Richmond: Curzon Press, 2000. Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Oxford University Press: New York 2002. Jenkins, Philip. The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. Oxford University Press: New York 2006. Kim, Sangkeun. Strange Names of God: The Missionary Translation of the Divine Name and the Chinese Response to Matteo Ricci's Shangti in Late Ming China, 1583-1644. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2004. Lott, Eric. Worship in an Indian context. Bangalore: United Theological College, 1987. Moreau, A. Scott. Contextualization in World Missions. Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models. Kregel: Grands Rapids 2012. Rajkumar, Peniel. ISG 50: Asian Theology on the Way: Christianity, Culture and Context. SPCK: London 2012 Takenaka, Masao, Ron O'Grady. The Bible Through Asian Eyes. Friendship Press, Pace Publishing 1991 Takenaka, Masao. God is Rice: Asian Cultures and Christian Faith. Geneva: WCC 2009. Takenaka, Masao. When the Bamboo Bends: Christ and Culture in Japan. Geneva: WCC 2002 (Risk Book Series). Schouten, Jan Peter. Jesus as a Guru: The Image of Christ among Hindus and Christians in India, Rodopi 2008, Indian reprint. Van Rheenen, Gaily ed. Contextualization and syncretism. Cultural Currents. Pasadena: William Carrey Library 2006. Wall, Andrew. The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History. Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 2002.

Faculty review notes: This file uses Miss 16 and Area D; the curriculum lists Gospel and Culture under Miss 18 in Area E. The source research/visit requirement is retained but is not a newly scheduled activity. Any observation or research needs consent and faculty approval.

Text reproduced from Miss 16 Gospel and Culture.doc. Source credit values, where present, do not establish an individual registration, teaching dates or faculty approval of later changes.