Transforming Worldviews : An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change

A leading evangelical anthropologist/missiologist provides students of intercultural ministry with an understanding of worldview and a strategy for effective, long-term ministry. In the past, changes in behavior and in belief have been leading indicators for missionaries that Christian conversion had occurred. But these alone--or even together--are insufficient for a gospel understanding of conversion. For effective biblical mission, Paul G. Hiebert argues, we must add a third element: a change in worldview. Here he offers a comprehensive study of worldview--its philosophy, its history, its characteristics, and the means for understanding it. He then provides a detailed analysis of several worldviews that missionaries must engage today, addressing the impact of each on Christianity and mission. A biblical worldview is outlined for comparison. Finally, Hiebert argues for gospel ministry that seeks to transform people's worldviews and offers suggestions for how to do so. --From publisher's description Cover Title Page Contents Figures Introduction Chapter 1 - The Concept of Worldview Chapter 2 - Characteristics of Worldviews Chapter 3 - Worldviews in Human Contexts Chapter 4 - Methods for Analyzing Worldviews Chapter 5 - Worldviews of Small - Scale Oral Societies Chapter 6 - Peasant Worldviews Chapter 7 - The Modern Worldview Chapter 8 - The Worldview of Late Modernity or Postmodernity Chapter 9 - The Post-Postmodern or Glocal Worldview Chapter 10 - Toward a Biblical Worldview Chapter 11 - Transforming Worldviews Appendix 1 - A Model for Worldview Analysis Appendix 2 - A Comparison of American and Indian Worldviews Appendix 3 - Modern-Postmodern Shift References Index