Analysis and Examination of cotextualization in Christian Mission
Article Type:
Research
Writers:
✍️ Abolhasan Pourghorbani
/ Level Four Graduate of the Seminary and PhD in Christian Theology, Qom, Iran / abolikaka@gmail.com
/ Level Four Graduate of the Seminary and PhD in Christian Theology, Qom, Iran / abolikaka@gmail.com10.22034/marefateadyan.2025.5001634⏳
Abstract:
cotextualization is one of the central concepts in Christian mission, employed with the aim of adapting the Christian message to local cultures and conditions. This approach has undergone numerous developments and complexities from the early history of the Church to the present day. This research, using qualitative content analysis and a review of library sources, examines the historical background of this concept, the biblical principles associated with it, the models and approaches of cotextualization, and provides a critical analysis from an Islamic perspective. Furthermore, the practical and cultural challenges related to this approach are investigated, and examples of successful and unsuccessful adaptations in Islamic and non-Islamic countries are presented. The results indicate that cotextualization, despite facilitating the transmission of the message, may lead to changes in the religious and cultural identity of societies; hence, the necessity of vigilance and strengthening religious awareness against this approach is emphasized.
چکیده و کلیدواژه فارسی (Persian)
Title :تحلیل و بررسی بومیسازی در تبشیر مسیحی
Abstract:
بومیسازی یکی از مفاهیم محوری در تبشیر مسیحی است که با هدف تطبیق پیام این دین با فرهنگها و شرایط محلی مورد استفاده قرار میگیرد. این رویکرد از ابتدای تاریخ کلیسا تا به امروز تحولات و پیچیدگیهای فراوانی را پشت سر گذاشته است. این پژوهش با استفاده از روش تحلیل محتوای کیفی و بررسی منابع کتابخانهای به بررسی تاریخی این مفهوم، اصول کتاب مقدس مرتبط با آن، مدلها و رویکردهای بومیسازی، و تحلیل انتقادی آن از منظر اسلامی پرداخته است. همچنین چالشهای عملی و فرهنگی مرتبط با این رویکرد مورد بررسی قرار گرفته و نمونههایی از تطبیقهای موفق و ناموفق در کشورهای اسلامی و غیراسلامی ارائه شده است. نتایج این پژوهش نشان میدهد که بومیسازی، بهرغم تسهیل انتقال پیام، ممکن است به تغییر در هویت دینی و فرهنگی جوامع منجر شود؛ ازاینرو بر لزوم هوشیاری و تقویت آگاهی دینی در برابر این رویکرد تأکید شده است.
References:
- .
References:
- Anderson, A. (2001). African reformation: African initiated Christianity in the 20th century. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
- Bausani, A. (1981). The mystical aspects of Islamic and Christian love. Leiden: Brill.
- Bevans, S. B. (2002). Models of contextual theology (Revised ed.). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Bosch, D. J. (2011). Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission (20th anniversary ed.). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Brown, D. (1992). Henry Martyn and the translation of the Bible in Iran. London: Acumen Publishing.
- Frykenberg, R. E. (2003). Robert de Nobili and the contextualization of Christianity in India. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ghazi, M. (2005). Biblical translation and contextualization in Morocco and Algeria. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
- Gilliland, D. S. (1989). The incarnational approach to contextualization. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing.
- Gutiérrez, G. (1973). A theology of liberation: History, politics and salvation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Hesselgrave, D. J. & Rommen, E. (2000). Contextualization: Meanings, methods and models. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
- Heyberger, B. (2013). Christians of the Middle East: An introduction. London: I.B. Tauris.
- Hiebert, p. G. (1994). Anthropological reflections on missiological issues. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
- Johnson, T. & Zander, R. (2007). The cultures of devotion: Folk practices and Catholicism in Southeast Mexico. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
- Kitamura, K. (1998). Bushido and the Christian samurai. Tokyo: East Asia Press.
- Kraft, C. H. (2005). Christianity in culture: A study in dynamic biblical theologizing in cross-cultural perspective (Revised ed.). Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Lambert, D. (1995). Contextualization in Indonesia and Islamic mysticism. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
- Miller, J. (2010). Christian missions in the Gulf States, London: Cambridge University Press.
- Neill, S. (1990). A history of Christian missions (2nd ed.). London: Penguin Books.
- Sanneh, L. (1989). Translating the message: The missionary impact on culture. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Schreiter, R. J. (1985). Constructing local theologies. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
- Shenk, W. R. (2005). Global Gods: Exploring the role of religion in the modern world. Maryknoll, NY: Fortress Press.
- Spence, J. D. (1984). The memory palace of Matteo Ricci. New York, NY: Viking Penguin.
- Tennent, T. C. (2010). Invitation to world missions: A trinitarian missiology for the twenty-first century. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
- Tieszen, J. (2011). Reaching Muslims in the Arabic-speaking world. Herndon, VA: International Institute of Islamic Thought.
- Walls, A. F. (1996). The missionary movement in Christian history: Studies in the transmission of faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Cite this article:
RIS
Mendeley
BibTeX
APA
MLA
HARVARD
VANCOUVER
Pourghorbani, Abolhasan. (2026) Analysis and Examination of cotextualization in Christian Mission. Ma`rifat-e Adyan, 17(1), 69-89 https://doi.org/10.22034/marefateadyan.2025.5001634.
Abolhasan Pourghorbani."Analysis and Examination of cotextualization in Christian Mission". Ma`rifat-e Adyan, 17, 1, 2026, 69-89
Pourghorbani, A.(2026) 'Analysis and Examination of cotextualization in Christian Mission', Ma`rifat-e Adyan, 17(1), pp. 69-89
