Missiology and the Social Sciences

Edward Rommen (DMiss, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; PhD, Ludwig Maximillian University) planted churches and taught in Europe for fifteen years. He then returned to the United States to teach missions and theology and worked in pastoral ministry as an Orthodox priest. He is currently an adjunct professor at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. Gary R. Corwin (MA, Northwestern University) is a missiologist serving with SIM International. He is the author of several books and articles, including By Prayer to the Nations: A Short History of SIM. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Contributions, Cautions, and ConclusionsMissiology draws from several sources. These include God's revelation in Holy Scripture, historical creeds and theology, past and present missionary experiences, and various social sciences that help us to understand diverse cultural and religious dynamics. But how exactly do these sources relate to one another? How do we balance and prioritize the contributions of each?Missiology and the Social Sciences answer these questions with scholarly care. On the one hand, it's unthinkable that missionaries would not use the social sciences such as anthropology and linguistics. How else would we translate the Bible and learn about other cultures? On the other hand, some writers warn of the subtle danger that social sciences could undermine biblical authority. Cultural bias also might affect social science research and hinder our ability to discern what God is doing around us.The contributors in this book help readers understand the debate and its many practical implications. It equips missionaries to engage the social sciences in more thoughtful ways that can bear gospel fruit.