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Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication
Monoculturalism – is the assumption that all people are the same as in our culture giving rise to judging other people’s behaviors and attitudes according to one’s own cultural norms.
Monocultural – one’s experience is limited to one’s own culture Spiting in Meru Holding hands
Examples of Monoculturalism from U.S. Perspective:
Life style in better Naturalism Individualism Economics EducationBiblical Examples: Egyptian and Israelites (Gen. 43:32) Jews and Samaritans (Jn. 4:9) Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:28; 11:3)
Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication
Elements of Monoculturalism Equates one’s own perception of reality
with reality itself Assumes one’s own beliefs are accepted
because they are superior Does not respect other cultures or
subcultures Heathen vs. Christian Primitive vs. Advanced Superstitious vs. Religious Civilized vs. Uncivilized or Savage Developed vs. Underdeveloped
Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication
Kraft’s Three Types of Monoculturalism Eclectic – selected best customs
throughout the world to make a superior culture
Reactionary – ridicule one’s own culture and adores another
One World – feeling that all the world is headed toward a single culture with accommodation to Western thoughts and ideas
Fourth Type of Monoculturalism Protective – feeling if one does not
uncritically uphold one’s culture in it will be undermined by another
Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication Ethnocentric – a person believes his/her
own culture is superior to another Justification of ethnocentrism
Technological – more advance in products Cultural – most civilized and advanced (Gen.
43:32) Economics – we are wealthier Educational – we are more educated Theological – Christian heritage Racial (Jn. 4:9, Acts 10:28; 11:3)
Cross-culturalism – is the learned skill of relating to people of other cultures in appropriate ways within their cultural context.
Characteristics of Cross-culturalism Learning the language and culture Understand peoples worldview Function effectively within culture Contextualize the Christian message and
life Respect for culture and people, as own
Eph. 2:14, 19 Rom. 12:10
Biblical examples of cross-cultural barrier breaking. John 4 Acts 10-11
Cultural differences Meat offered to idols Jew and festivals and sacrifice (Acts 21:23-
26) Circumcision
State of communication in modern world Faster travel Quicker communication
Phone Internet
Globalization Worldwide shared images Greater knowledge of other peoples and
places
M
M
R S
Feedback
R SEncodes Decodes
Noise Noise
TIME
CULTURE
Biblical Culture
American Culture
M
M
S RR S
M
M
S RR S
S = Source
M = Message
R = Receptor
Third
Culture
R
TIME CULTURE
CULTURE
Elements of Effective Cross-cultural Communication Missionary is adapting to culture Missionary recognizes the impact of his own culture Missionary is familiar with the biblical culture
Goals of Effective Cross-cultural Communication People must learn to interpret scripture in their
context Scripture not communicators tradition to be the
base for the knowledge of God and His will People develop their own rites Host people and missionaries share same biblical
reality
Cultural Perspective with + 3 Worldview Distance (U.S. vs. Africa)
GodDistant
Spiritual Realm
World/Nature
Div
iner
Sorc
erer
SpiritualSpiritual/Physical/Physical
Ancestral Spirits
African Traditional Religion
God
Material World
Deism
American culture Naturalistic – makes a distinction between natural
and spiritual Two realms:
Spiritual/Supernatural Natural
Examples: Disease: germs Individualistic Optimistic: thin we are in control Present-oriented
African culture Spiritualistic – Spiritual powers effecting daily life Group-oriented
Family, age mates, clan, tribe Problem solved as a group
Fatalistic – not in control because dependent on rains and spiritual world
Past-oriented (traditional) Linear in that past generation live on as spiritual
beings Meru juju
Cyclical in that ins some cases the spirit of ancestor comes back and lives in them Kisigis Kurnet rite
New Testament culture Spiritualistic – Spiritual powers under the
sovereignty of God Group/individual-oriented
Philippian Jailer and his household, Cornilius- his household
Paul, Ethiopian eunuch Optimistic
Freedom from sin Release from demons or spirits God in control and involve in His creation
Past, Present, and Future oriented Saving event in past Present relationship with Christ Future home with God
Process for communicating the Gospel effectively
Understand the cultural context Discern the host’s culture’s worldview Be culturally perceptive
Re-evaluate one’s own worldview and culture in light of scripture
Understand spiritual powers (Eph. 6:12) Realize God continues to work in the world (Jn.
5:17) Be more God-reliant than self-reliant
Seek God’s timeless message for all humanity