Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective

by Brian M. Howell

What is the role of culture in human experience? This introductory cultural anthropology textbook helps readers explore and understand this crucial issue from a Christian perspective. The book covers standard cultural anthropology topics with special attention given to issues of concern to Christians, such as cultural relativism, evolution, and missions.This concise yet solid introduction represents the authors' years of experience in the classroom and offers a fresh, contemporary approach. Each chapter includes objectives, text boxes, terms, and discussion questions. In addition, plentiful maps, photos, and sidebars are sprinkled throughout the text. Resources for professors using this text are available at www.introducinganthropology.com.

Genres: Anthropology, College, Nonfiction, Christianity, Social Science, Christian, Textbooks

286 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

Brian Howell is a professor at Wheaton College. He recieved his Ph.D. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Washington University, St. Louis, in 2002.

Howell is particularly interested in courses dealing with global Christianity, culture theory and inequality as well as anthropology and popular culture, and strives to incorporate such issues into his courses. Dr. Howell and his wife Marissa Sabio reside in Wheaton with their three children and are active church members.

Reviews

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a current online student at Liberty University. I had to take an elective which meant cultural anthropology. This book is absolutely terrible and I'm a little shocked it's both free on the Logo Bible app as well as provided to students attending Liberty, a biblical teaching school. When it's saying as Christians we need to be more open and understanding to cultural diversity, gender, marriage, and religion um that doesn't align with the Bible in my opinion. When trying to express that Christianity and evolution can easily co exist or starting off multiple paragraphs with "This may make Christians uncomfortable or not align with their traditional views" in terms of the LGBTQ community, the definition of what Marriage is, multiple genders, or saying religion is a cultural concept to then end with bible verses to try and connect it to the bible (not actually) I'm sorry absolutely not. I felt an off feeling reading this book and this quarter, thankfully Im strong in my faith and turned to my bible and prayer many times. But what if young just out of high school students take this class?


We have to be aware as followers of Christ that even amongst churches, biblical schools, or surrounding ourselves with people who say they are a Christian, doesn't mean they actually follow the Bible or God.

[Rebecca Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

For teaching cultural anthropology at a Christian university or seminary, this book does a really good job of covering the bases. It surveys different areas of inquiry in cultural anthropology, and it gives students an idea of how cultural anthropology can be useful in various professional fields. It is a survey of the discipline, not a practical guide for application. Though it's not the juiciest morsel of reading you will ever assign, it does set up the basic cultural anthropology framework well.

How will I use this book? I teach people who are seeking to develop intercultural skill for service, ministry, or business. My students are not heading into anthropology as an academic field. The first and last chapters are a bit redundant for them, so I will have my students only skim those. In fact, my students will probably end up skimming 2/5 of the book, which will help them get an idea of the concepts without being bogged down by the details. I will need to come up with ways to apply some of the information and topics to here-and-now peoples and situations. For example, what do the chapters on kinship and economic systems have to do with intercultural ministry here in the US today or business partnerships overseas? The authors do touch on ethnographic research principles, but considering the centrality of ethnography to cultural anthropology, I wish they would have devoted an entire chapter to it.

It's a useful intro text that provides a credible survey.

[Jonathan Asbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to anthropology, not very deep on it’s Christian perspective

This is a great book and a must read for anyone interested in anthropology. Furthermore, anyone interested in cross cultural work should read this book.
The authors do a great job introducing and describing anthropology as a field.
However, the “Christian” aspect of the book is limited to a few questions to ponder. When the authors present a Christian opinion, this obviously comes from their own not too conservative perspective. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for a more conservative audience, it may not be what they are looking for.
Overall, the book is a great tool for anthropology and reflection, but it is not a particularly “Christian” perspective as much as it is an anthropological perspective written by Christian authors.

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the introductory text from Howell. I'm not familiar with anthropology and this was a helpful primer. There was a lot to cover, and there were areas that felt far too in-depth for what I expected.

Since it says "A Christian perspective", I have a hard time seeing the depth of theology associated, but this seems to be more from an anthropologist than a theologian, and for that, I give charity and appreciate the attempt.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually, introductory textbooks are Elementary and provide little useful insights. This book does not just state the obvious - but has actual insights that make you want to explore the topics more.

Surprisingly, this anthropology book isn't falling into liberalism like many others. I was pleased with this textbook for my seminary courses.

[Jeanine Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to cultural anthropology

Excellent guide and introduction of cultural anthropology that also includes the Christian perspectives and application without losing objectivity and professionalism. I am compelled to do further professional studies on the subject after this course!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introducing Cultural Anthropology isn't a bad textbook, but it's nothing special. Very definition heavy and very light on the case studies and real-life examples (which is what is most interesting about anthropology). I thought the little devotions at the end of each chapter were kind of unique and fitting.

[Marcus Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introducing Cultural Anthropology does an excellent job of showing and explaining the various theories by which the field of Cultural Anthropology is built and also the different methods, views, theories, and hypotheses within the field, but in my opinion, it does a lousy job at taking a biblical solid stance against the field of Cultural Anthropology which is a liberal field of study.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the topic of this book, and I enjoyed reading about cultural differences! This would be something I will want to read again in the future!

[Accounty]

going to read

[Amy Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class. Was a great overview of anthropology from a Christian perspective.

[Piper Hicks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I basically read it all

[Bobby Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for my course Understanding Cultural Diversity. The authors gave a throrough yet easily understandable approach to the topic of anthropology. This book opened my eyes to the various anthropological theories and has put a passion for anthropology in my heart while reinforcing my conviction to missional Christian ministry.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my textbooks for my Masters level Cultural Anthropology class at Liberty University.

In contrast to certain other reviewers, I am not at all surprised that this book is available through Logos or that it is used as a textbook at Liberty University.

It does teach that we need to be open to cultural diversity, as does the Bible. (Just see Galatians 3:28, Romans 14:10, Colossians 3:11, Isaiah 56:6-8, Ezekiel 47:22, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 14:6, and I could go on...)

The book's views are that marriage is a cultural construct but also divinely ordained, just as the Bible demonstrates.

The book does say we should be able to understand other cultures and religions so that we can effectively communicate the gospel to them.

The book does acknowledge that some other cultures have differing views about multiple genders. It doesn't condone such views, simply states that they are there.

In short, unlike what certain other reviewers have posted, this book does an excellent job of presenting traditional cultural anthropology topics from a biblically grounded Christian worldview.

With regards to evolution, the book specifically writes, "[Menses] describes anthropology as foundationally committed to atheism, naturalism, and evolution, all three of which are incompatible with Christian truth." (p253) I believe every other time evolution comes up, the book is talking about Unilinear Cultural Evolution, an early anthropological framework that has nothing to do with Darwinism and has mostly been discarded in our time. Perhaps certain other reviewers were too closed-minded to notice this distinction.

Such reviewers also accused this book of saying religion is a cultural concept. And? They are saying that religion, as it is practiced, is culturally determined and can be understood from within a cultural framework. Anyone willing to compare African-American services, rural country churches, multiethnic megachurches, and high-church mainline denominations can quickly see how obviously true this is. One doesn't even need to go overseas and visit churches in other languages from other cultural backgrounds (although I highly recommend at least one such experience in your lifetime).

Certain other reviewers claimed they had an "off feeling" about reading this book. That was probably their shallow, narrow-minded ethnocentric presuppositional worldview being challenged. Or maybe it was the pizza they ate the night before. Who knows?

I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed this textbook. It was certainly my favorite among the four and I strongly endorse it for any and every cultural anthropology course. Still only giving it 4 out of 5 stars because it is a textbook and reads like one. But I am glad to have read it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to find this ideal textbook for my cultural anthropology class. Written with coherent structure and understandable explanations, it provides a comprehensive introduction to the field. Good discussion points throughout and showing clear relevance for missionary and cultural engagement. I will be better able to evaluate after the semester is over, but I'm expecting it to prove to be a key asset to the course. Thank you Brian and Jenell.

[Emil Bredahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that gave me lot's to think about. The textbook introduces this subject of anthropology in an interesting way, and it is a textbook nit written in extremely difficult academic language, very informative and good for students like me who never heard about anthropology and wanted to know more.
Top grades to a great book that I highly can recommend,

[Sara Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great choice for a textbook for Cultural Anthropology. If I teach the course again I will definitely use this book.

[Bruce Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

textbook for class. Good overview.

[Corrie Eavenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about anthropology from a Christian perspective. The authors' style of writing and their inclusion of their own experiences in the field kept the book from being boring.