Change across Cultures: A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation
Overview
C. S. Lewis compared the task of ethical inquiry to sailing a fleet of ships—the primary task is avoiding collisions. When introducing cultural change, such collisions are inevitable. Bruce Bradshaw provides expert instruction for navigating these cultural clashes. Bradshaw contents that lasting change comes only through the transformation of the stories by which we live. Aspects of God’s redemption story can change how local cultures think and behave toward the environment, religions, government, gender identities, economics, science, and technology. However, effective change takes place only in a context of reconciliation, Christian community, and mutual learning. This is a must-read for anyone engaged in or preparing for cross-cultural ministry, relief, or development work. The book is also relevant to students of ethics, philosophy, and theology. Numerous real-life examples illustrate the inevitable tensions that occur when cultures and narratives collide.
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- Provides expert instruction for navigating cultural clashes
- Includes real-life examples of tensions that occur when cultures and narratives collide
- Presents students and workers with a foundation for cross-cultural ministry
- Narrative: The Media of Ethical Inquiry
- Scripture: From Narrative to Metanarrative
- Culture: From Functionalism to Redemption
- Environment: From Gnosticism to Biblical Holism
- Religious Practices: From Power to Truth
- The Powers: Transformation through Subordination
- Gender Equality: From Participation to Leadership
- Economics: From Exploitation to Empowerment
- Science and Religion: Two Different Leading Functions
- Reconciliation: A Commitment to a Better Future
- Community: One Narrative with Many Cultural Dimensions
- Toward Constructing the Narrative: From Teaching to Learning
Top Highlights
“The narrative context of the Levitical injunction, however, can also be interpreted to imply that communities can realize justice when their laws respect all people equally. Instead of suggesting that people are justified in destroying each other’s limbs and lives, the ethical injunction can actually prevent such destruction by encouraging people to value their neighbors as much as they value themselves.” (Page 12)
“The argument between these two positions can be resolved by analyzing the leading functions of the institutions that are employing the people who are receiving the payments. A payment for services, whether money or material, is a bribe if it impedes an institution from fulfilling its leading function.” (Page 236)
A crucial addition to any serious library. It could make an effective missions textbook. No doubt Bradshaw’s work will have a wide impact, ultimately for the Gospel in societies around the world.
—Evangelical Missions Quarterly
By exploring many dimensions of cultures and drawing stories from around the world, this book makes fascinating reading. It also makes a valuable contribution to those seeking a better understanding of the relationship between the Gospel and culture. This requires that we understand other cultures and the values undergirding them, storytelling plays a major role in bringing about cultural change.
—Eric Ram, director of international health and international relations, World Vision
- Title: Change across Cultures: A Narrative Approach to Social Transformation
- Author: Bruce Bradshaw
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2002
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Pages: 264
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Christianity and culture; Discourse analysis, narrative; Social change
- ISBNs: 9781441249135, 9780801022890, 1441249133, 0801022894
- Resource ID: LLS:AAA2D9E0A19421FBB81EEDC7D070BDE7
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-06T21:31:34Z
Bruce Bradshaw is the director of transformational development research and training for World Vision International. He is the author of Bridging the Gap: Evangelicalism, Development, and Shalom.