Communication in Mission and Development: Relating to the Church in Africa

Description:
Communication in Mission and Development identifies, unpacks, and articulates fundamental problems in communication in mission and development as it is being carried out in Africa and the majority world today. New technology, unique in the history of mankind, is throwing up vexing issues, to date barely recognized, in communication practice. This book reconsiders:
. Previous work by mission scholars on communication.
. Questions regarding materialism in Africa.
. Widespread understandings on the nature of human equality.
. The impact on communication of the holding of monistic vs. dualistic worldviews.
. African and Western approaches to hermeneutics.
. The use of European languages for communication in Africa.
. Issues related to globalization and development.
. And more . . .

Underlying differences in philosophical foundations amongst Western as against majority world people influences their respective communication to such an extent that the expectation that both sides simply understand one another because they happen to use the same international language is found to be unrealistic. Communication in Mission and Development concludes that the practice of mission and development will better cope with current realities when the use of local languages is once again given its proper decisive place.


Endorsements:
""Living with the local people and like the local people in a rural village in Kenya has given Jim insight that cannot be bought or taught. I am willing to sit up and listen to what Jim has to say about communication in mission and development. His book will make you dig deep, think hard, and then think again.""
--Jean Johnson, Co-Director of World Mission Associates

""Few can fail to notice the massive disconnect between Africa and every attempt to 'help' it from the outside. Harries pins a lot of the blame for this disconnect in an unexpected place--superficial Western assumptions about communication, racism, and dualism. How long will Africa suffer because outsiders are not seeing what Harries is pointing out?""
--Stan Nussbaum, author of American Cultural Baggage

""Communication in Mission and Development is a significant addition to your must-read book pile. For anyone who cares about unhealthy dependency between the African church and the Western world, Jim Harries boldly advocates the need to rethink the cultural context and problems of communication. This book will challenge you to broaden your perspective of intercultural communication and the use of local language in ministry.""
--Valerie J. Arguello, Principal Partner of Symbiotika Leadership

""Jim Harries has written a pioneering and authoritative book on communication, mission, and development that should be read both for its intellectual depth and its illuminating proposals for intercultural communication between Africa and the West. . . . Mission will no longer be the same with the publication of this significant work of scholarship born from twenty-five years of prayers, reflections, and respectful and reciprocal encounters with African peoples.""
--Stan Chu Ilo, Director of Field Education, University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto


About the Contributor(s):
Jim Harries (PhD, University of Birmingham) has served in Africa since 1988. He is Professor of Religion with Global University and is the author of From Theory to Practice in Vulnerable Mission (2012). Jim chairs the Alliance for Vulnerable Mission (vulnerablemission.org).