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Paul G. Hiebert
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Understanding Folk Religion: A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices Paperback – January 1, 2000

by Paul G. Hiebert (Author), R. Daniel Shaw (Author), Tite Tienou (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 69 ratings
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Provides a model for examining the beliefs folk religions around the world and suggests biblical principles missionaries can use to deal with them.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    414 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 1, 2000
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.94 x 8.75 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0801022193
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0801022197
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A book for all Christians to read who are serious about deep-level spiritual transformation. Our cultural upbringing often hides from our awareness areas of life that need to be confronted by the gospel. Reading this book will help uncover aspects of our own worldview and practice that are more informed by North American culture than by the kingdom values of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are few resources available, apart from living in a cross-cultural context, that can do what this book can accomplish. Can a person worship Christ on Sunday and visit a witch doctor on Monday morning for a healing remedy? This is the question Hiebert and his colleagues deal with in an effort to uncover what people really believe in a variety of cultures. They demonstrate how Christian missionaries have often forced folk beliefs underground when they actually thought they had rooted them out. They do a masterful job of providing the framework of a biblical response to a number of issues. -- Clinton Arnold

An excellent resource book to serve as a text in missiology classes addressing folk religions and critical contextualization. The book provides a substantive overview of the characteristics of folk religions and excellent guidelines for a thoroughly biblical response to these religions in Christian mission. A significant strength of the volume are the chapters which focus on the central questions of life addressed in folk religions, and the biblical principles essential for a Christian response. The exceptional chapter on sacred myths shows how Indo-European myths have influenced missionary bias and popular theologies of spiritual warfare. The book concludes by identifying the key theological issues of relevance for new and maturing churches in folk communities. For missionaries and Christian workers in folk societies around the world, this book provides sound theoretical understanding, comprehensive elucidation of the characteristics of folk religions, and fundamental biblical and theological principles for practical application in ministry.

-- Sherwood Lingenfelter, dean, School of World Missions, Fuller Theological Seminary

As a missionary in Central America, I saw professing Christians sacrifice chickens on their way to church. As a missions professor in North America, I see professing Christians consult horoscopes for daily guidance. This much needed and long overdue volume provides the perspective needed to understand the what and why of the everyday religious beliefs and practicesboth old and newthat actually shape the lives of their adherents. Contains culturally sensitive, theologically sound, and missiologically astute guidelines for communicating biblical truth in a transforming way. -- Kenneth B. Mulholland, dean, Columbia Bible Institute & Graduate School of Missions

Here is a book that really does what the title suggests: It effectively helps Christians understand and respond to the beliefs and practices of folk religion, at home and abroad. -- Gerald H. Anderson, director, Overseas Ministries Study Center

About the Author

The late Paul G. Hiebert (1932-2007) was distinguished professor of mission and anthropology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and previously taught at Fuller Theological Seminary. He also served as a pastor and missionary to India. He received his PhD from the University of Minnesota and was the author or coauthor of numerous articles and books in the fields of anthropology and missions.

R. Daniel Shaw is professor of anthropology and translation at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Tite Tiénou is professor of theology of mission at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baker Academic (January 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 414 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801022193
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801022197
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.51 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.94 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 69 ratings

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Paul G. Hiebert

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
69 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Terri P
5.0 out of 5 stars Brought relevant understanding
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
Understanding Folk Religion is a must read to be culturally sensitive and aware of one's own paradigm and its affect on how we have grace and deeper insight to those we want to share our love with. I was surprised at how many questions it answered and how practical the information was. I intend on reading it again.
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Chack77
5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing others with clearer vision...
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
Understanding Folk Religion is more than just an analysis of the beliefs and practices of folk religion. It provides an entire paradigm through which to evaluate what and how people believe and think. It powerfully shows that amidst all our differences with those of profoundly different backgrounds and cultures, we are inescapably the same: made in the image of God and trying to figure out how to cope with sin in a sinful world. Hiebert and others show how our practices and rituals reinforce our beliefs and how contrary expressions can reveal an identical root belief.

Admittedly the writing is a little technical and dry and times, but the information is profoundly helpful. Highly recommended to those desiring to better understand those of different beliefs (not just adherents to folk religion!). And highly recommended to those interested in how practices and rituals reinforce and undergird beliefs.
2 people found this helpful
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Rchao34
5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very informative and easy to read
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Rev. Delwyn X. Campbell
4.0 out of 5 stars First natural... then spiritual
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
At location 496, the author says that the Scriptures do not differentiate between the natural and the spiritual. Paul his to great lengths in 1 Cor 15, when teaching on the Resurrection, to show that such a distinction exists. He also does so in Galatians 5 when comparing the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.
I think that people only change when their current world view is unable to answer existential questions a person is having. At that point, the person will struggle to hold on until the current position becomes untenable. Then, either an Epiphany takes place, or the person become a "reluctant convert," as C.S. described himself.
Otherwise, I find the systems approach to be useful.
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Haley Templeton
5.0 out of 5 stars What is Folk Religion?
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
Most of us go throughout our lives and we don't really notice the difference between folk and formal religion. Some people claim not to be religious and others highly religious but truth is, we are all religious. Formal Religion is what we say we believe: this could be your Christian, atheistic, or Islamic beliefs. Folk Religion is then how you go out and live your life on a day to day basis. So you say one thing, but then you go rely on money for contentment or your 'god' is actually your gym and your body. It is written from a Christian bent, so at the end of each chapter they give insight how Christians should interact with that material. I found this book very eye-opening and very helpful. I look at how people act a little bit differently now and also get to challenge myself and others to shorten the gap in the dichotomy of beliefs and practice.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for anyone who wants to intentionally interact with other cultures
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2023
I wish I’d known this book existed sooner. If you’re a Christian going on mission trips abroad or wanting to interact with people of other cultures here, read this book. Not only does it help to understand how to humbly engage in relationships with people of other backgrounds, it helps the reader understand his/her own culture. For me as an American, I found this book very eye opening. There’s a lot of information in it, so I definitely recommend purchasing a hard copy rather than an audiobook version or borrowing a copy from a library. You’ll want to underline, highlight, etc.
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David Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Analyzing Belief Systems
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
This book provides a guide for Christians in understanding how to interact with people from different religious backgrounds and how to analyze each belief system. Must read!
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Sara
4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful evaluation of why syncretism continues.
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
The authors discussed which questions formal and folk religions answer, and why people often fall into syncretism. I felt like their analysis was a different perspective on the same issue as is discussed by insider movement ideas. Basically, broad doctrines don’t always give answers on specific practice. I was encouraged by Christian authors mentioning the evil eye, as very few Christian authors do. Section 1 was helpful. Some beliefs mentioned in section 2 frightened and disturbed me, and (I thought) they were not as broadly relevant as section 1. Section 1 was very helpful.
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Top reviews from other countries

Margaret Boyt
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
A bit disappointing
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