Transforming Worldviews : An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change

by Hiebert, Paul G.

• ISBN13: 9780801027055
• ISBN10: 0801027055
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

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.

Author Biography

Paul G. Hiebert (1933-2007) was distinguished professor of mission and anthropology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and previously taught at Fuller Theological Seminary. He also served as a pastor and missionary to India. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota and was the author or coauthor of numerous articles and books in the fields of anthropology and missions.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. 7
The Concept of Worldview	p. 13
Characteristics of Worldviews	p. 31
Worldviews in Human Contexts	p. 71
Methods for Analyzing Worldviews	p. 89
Worldviews of Small-Scale Oral Societies	p. 105
Peasant Worldviews	p. 123
The Modern Worldview	p. 141
The Worldview of Late Modernity or Postmodernity	p. 211
The Post-Postmodern or Glocal Worldview	p. 241
Toward a Biblical Worldview	p. 265
Transforming Worldviews	p. 307
A Model for Worldview Analysis	p. 335
A Comparison of American and Indian Worldviews	p. 337
Modern/Postmodern Shift	p. 345
References Cited	p. 347
Index	p. 359
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