I was listening to the podcast "The Missions Podcast" (by ABWE). They had a guest, E.D. Burns, who wrote a book called "The Transcultural Gospel:Â Jesus Is Enough for Sinners in Cultures of Shame, Fear, Bondage, and Weakness." I have not read the book, it just came out, but here are a few quick thoughts before …
Category: Contextualization
Missions and its role interacting with human culture.
Theology “Tests” in Localization
TestQuestionsBasisRevelationHarmonious and Coherent with Scripture? Or Disonant, or “cherry-picked” from Scripture?Unity and Canonicity of the BibleGodIs the God described within the theology, the God who is revealed? Is God worthy of worship, and relational in prayer?God as Object of TheologyCreationIs our relation to creation in line with it being God's good creation? Is our relation …
Internationalization and Localization of Theology, Part 4
The final step of localizing a video game for a new market is Quality Control. The steps of Internationalization and Localization are meant to make a game that feels natural in a new market. I noted in the last post, the goal is not to make the game feel local, but rather to make the …
Continue reading Internationalization and Localization of Theology, Part 4
Internationalization and Localization of Theology— Part 2
A critical step for converting video games to new culture/market is Internationalization. On initial consideration, it seems as if this is unnecessary. Why would one need to “internationalize” so as to 'localize.” However, this step is needed unliess one wants to make the localization process incredibly distressing. I must note that I am not a …
Continue reading Internationalization and Localization of Theology— Part 2
Internationalization and Localization of Theology. Part 1
I am not a video game person. I am pretty much limited to "Match 3" games. I was addicted to Bards Tale back in the 1980s. However, I have been talking to my daughter who is very interested in video games. She is interested in playing them, but also has a considerable interest in their …
Continue reading Internationalization and Localization of Theology. Part 1
Cultural Patterns and Social Motivators
Robert and Christopher Strauss in their book, "Four Overarching Patterns of Culture: A Look at Common Behavior" speaks of four "Cultural Patterns." These are: JusticeHonorReciprocityHarmony I find these to be useful categories for a framework. Of course, the test of categories in a framework is its usefulness, not its correctness. So if one person has …
Evaluating Contextual Theologies. Part 3
Third and final part of the chapter that I have written on this topic for my (work-in-progress) book on Missions Theology. Contextual Theology as “Good Scandal” “Good Scandal” is not another test or sub-test, but a different way of looking at the third test--- the test of culture. A good contextual theology should connect to …
Evaluating Contextual Theologies. Part 2
This is part of a chapter of a book I am writing on Contextual Theology. Still a work in progress. I will finish one day. Fair of Foul All Theology is Contextual. So when I speak of the “foul lines” of contextual theology, I mean the “foul lines” of ALL theology. The use of the …
Evaluating Contextual Theologies. Part 1
This is a chapter of a book I am writing on Contextual Theology. Still a work in progress. I will finish one day. Chapter 13 Evaluation of Contextualized Theologies Stephen Bevans states that all theology is contextual.1 However, as one of my dialogue partners noted, it could be taken to mean that there is nothing …
Religion from God, Man, or Satan?
This image above is considering where other religions come from. (from Sir Norman Anderson). Some people believe they come from God. If that is true then other religions are a Preparation for the Gospel. Other people believe they come from Satan. If that is true, then other religions are a trap, snare, and distraction. Others …