Chapter 1: The Discipline of Anthropology Objectives: o Describe the four fields of anthropology and explain how they relate to one another o 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 Archaeology Prehistoric-Historic-Contemporary Cultural/Social Physical/Biological Primatology-Forensics-Human Anatomy Linguistics Historical-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