Chapter 1:The Discipline of Anthropology

Objectives:o Describe the four fields of anthropology and

explain how they relate to one anothero Articulate the methods and concepts that

distinguish cultural anthropology from related disciplines such as sociology

o Explain how Christians have contributed to the discipline of anthropology as well as how anthropology can contribute to specifically Christian work such as missions

Anthropology and the Four Fields

Anthropology

ArchaeologyPrehistoric-Historic-Contemporary

Cultural/Social

Physical/Biological Primatology-Forensics-Human Anatomy

LinguisticsHistorical-Descriptive-Sociolinguistics

Anthropology and the Four Fields

Archaeology

The study of material artifacts to understand the actions and ideas of people in the past

Anthropology and the Four Fields

Linguistics

The subfield of anthropology devoted to the study of language

Anthropology and the Four Fields

Physical/Biological Anthropology

The study of human anatomy, nonhuman primates (primatology), and human origins

Anthropology and the Four Fields

Cultural Anthropology

The description, interpretation, and appreciation of

similarities and differences in human cultures

Ethnographic Methods

Ethnography A rich description and analysis of a culture that

includes the anthropologist’s experience of being there

Participant Observation An approach to research that combines participation

and observation in various ways to optimize one’s understanding of the culture being studied

The Anthropological Perspective

An approach to social research that seeks to understand culture from the point of view of the people within that cultural context

Anthropology and Sociology

Anthropology Uses qualitative

methodology More cross-cultural

focus Uses culture as key

analytical concept Study of the “Other”

Sociology Uses quantitative

methodology Less cross-cultural

focus Uses society as key

analytical concept Study of the “Self”

Christians and Anthropology

Christian Witness

Some prominent early anthropologists were also missionaries

Anthropology successfully integrated into Christian colleges, universities, seminaries, and missions training programs

Christianity and Anthropology

Missionaries study anthropological

research of particular groups or places before they go

study anthropological theory and method to be ready to study the context personally

Anthropologists have long been involved in

mission organizations have made profound

contributions to mission work

Both may feel the creative tension between anthropology and Christianity

Christianity and Anthropology

Christians and Basic Research in Anthropology

Many Christians come to anthropology with interests other than missions

Research becomes the foundation on which future scholars build

Christianity and Anthropology

Anthropology and the Global Church

Being Christian is always a multicultural experience Diversity is a gift but it poses challenges for being

unified Understanding differences prevents

misunderstanding and unnecessary division