Anthropology and Mission

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Questions and Answers

What is the origin of the term anthropology?

The Latin word anthropologia meaning the study of humanity and Greek anthropos denoting human beings.

What is the key challenge facing the Church in the 21st century according to the course?

To rediscover its authentic missionary focus by moving away from mission as Church expansion towards mission as exploration, discovery and transformation.

How does the Bible relate to mission in the course?

The Bible provides the Biblical Foundations for the mission.

What is the caution given in using the Bible for mission?

One should be careful not to selectively use the Bible to support outrageous opinions or theories. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of the Bible according to the text?

The Bible is a Library rather than one book. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the Church being truly missionary?

The Church is outward looking and outward moving, exploring and discovering ever more fully the implications of its essential catholicity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between God and mission according to the course?

God is a missionary God, and God's people must be a missionary people. Signup and view all the answers

What is the approach that Scripture scholars take today when interpreting the biblical text?

They give respect to the context, authorship, and literary genre of the biblical text and try to let the Bible speak for itself. Signup and view all the answers

According to David Bosch, what is the nature of the Christian faith?

The Christian faith is missionary by its nature. Signup and view all the answers

What was the traditional foundation of the Church's mission?

The post-resurrection command of Christ in Mk. 16:15. Signup and view all the answers

What was the limitation of Bosh's analysis of the theology of mission?

He skimped over the Old Testament in a few pages. Signup and view all the answers

What does Lucien Legrand argue about the faith of the Israelites in the Old Testament?

The faith of the Israelites was not as exclusive as it might appear at first sight. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Deut. 32:8-9 in the context of Israel's election?

It expresses Israel's consciousness of its status as the chosen people of God. Signup and view all the answers

What is the allegory of the foundling in Ezekiel 16 about?

It is another way of expressing Israel's consciousness of its election by God. Signup and view all the answers

What is the double movement within the faith of the people of Israel?

Israel as God's Chosen People and Israel's consciousness of its status as the chosen people of God. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Anthropology and Mission

The term "anthropology" comes from the Latin word "anthropologia" meaning the study of humanity and Greek "anthropos" denoting human beings.
Sociologically, anthropology studies human societies, cultures, and their development.
Mission anthropology focuses on the conviction that God is a missionary God who loves and reaches out to all people and aspects of their lives.

Biblical Foundation of Mission

The Bible is a collection of diverse literature and viewpoints, covering a vast period, and should be approached with caution.
Previously, Catholic theology used the Bible selectively to support established teachings, but modern Scripture scholars consider the context, authorship, and literary genre of the text.
The Christian faith sees all generations of humanity as objects of God's salvific will and plan of salvation.

Biblical Roots of Mission

The Christian faith is missionary by nature, and its denial would contradict its very purpose.
The Bible should be allowed to speak for itself, rather than being used to support predetermined convictions.

First Testament

The foundation of the Church's mission was previously located in the post-resurrection command of Christ, but the First Testament was largely ignored.
The faith of the Israelites was not as exclusive as it may seem, and it exhibits a double movement.
Israel saw itself as God's chosen people, with numerous texts expressing their consciousness of this status (e.g., Deut 32:8-9, Ezekiel 16).