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Mission Theology and History
Topic: Mission Theology and Historydetails: CTW104 /224session:
4a; Communication matters.
Groups. Question:
What human factors limit our ability to appreciate what other
people try to communicate to us?.
About 5 mins to feedback.
Limits to communication:
1. Some things are not revealed.
2. Our ability to understand may be limited.
3. Our sin may interfere (impure motives etc)
4. Cultural conditioning skews or hides ...
5. Personal circumstances or experience.
Limits to communication:
1. Some things are not revealed.2. Our ability to understand may
be limited.3. Our sin may interfere (impure motives etc)4. Cultural
conditioning skews or hides ...5. Personal circumstances or
experience.
These apply to our 'hearing' from Godand to communicating the
gospel.
Any examples?
Communication, culture and scripture:
What cultures are represented in Scripture?
Concerns are not always ours: -discussion of evangelism &
social action?or fair trade?
Do different cultural backgrounds cause us difficulties in
understanding Scripture? How?
Communication, culture and scripture:
Missing stuff: What do we tend to miss, culturally,about the
story of the woman at the well?
Why do we miss it?
How about Biblical images of sheep, sowing,levirate marriage
...
Communication, culture and scripture:
Plain meaning:
That fox Herod says what about Herod?
Was Jesus disrespectful to Mary? (In Temple,and at Cana)
Communication, culture and scripture:
'Plain' meaning:
Some Nigerians thought to see Ps 23for Jesus meant he would be
insane;only the mad and young boys tend sheep.
The Sawi in PNG: applauded Judas ...
Many Chinese see the Dragon in Revelationpositively.
Groups.
What misunderstandings have you comeacross about gospel, church,
Christian faith?
How far are they about cultural assumptions?
Break: 10 minutes.....
Groups.
Thinking of Ricci, Nobili etcWhat were the up~ & downsidesof
their cultural translations?
Frame of Ref 'A'Frame of ref 'B''
a talks to b entirelyin terms of FoR A
b doesn't understand
Frame of Ref 'A'Frame of ref 'B''
a talks to b byconverting b to FoR A
b can understandbut it's hard work
Frame of Ref 'A'Frame of ref 'B''
a talks to b byfinding waysusing FoR B
b can understandfairly easily
Frame of Ref 'A'Frame of ref 'B''
Can you think of examples in history of each of these?
Handout on translations.
'
In 3's (or so); look at each variant,what's the issue in
each?Why are the translations so varied?
'
Translation isn't just about language.It's about culture and
effectivecommunication. ...
