23 Cultures and Worldviews Why study culture Because

23 Cultures and Worldviews

Why study culture? • Because cross-cultural ignorance is a strong deterrent to the spread of the gospel around the world

What is culture? • Def: The integrated system of learned behavior characteristic of members of a society.

What is worldview? • Def: A set of underlying assumptions and allegiances that interpret existence. It binds people together as they use it to understand the world around them

What are the functions of worldview? • • Tell us What is real Rank things according to importance Tell us our underlying beliefs Shape our behavior

Worldview Universals* • Categorization – all societies group things according to some logic • Person-group – the smallest group that can decide • Causality – why things happen • Time-event – structure life around one of these • Space-material – how much space and stuff *From Charles Kraft

Why learn worldview? • Because we come with a worldview that blinds us to the life-ways of the target people • Without knowing theirs, we will assume ours is superior (ethnocentrism) • Missionaries need to attain the attitudes of learner, servant, and purpose – The missionaries sense of purpose tempers the other two, to keep them effective

How can missionaries learn worldview? • Use tools: observation, engagement, interviews, and research. • Research is the first step • A cultural “coach” can be invaluable as you start to engage people of the new culture • See example of Paul at Athens

How can worldviews change? • Invention, instability, intervention(outsider), and intervention from above (spiritual) • When old worldview assumptions can’t answer current issues, change is possible • Most lasting is when God intervenes – the power of the gospel to change lives