Communicating Christ in Animistic Contexts
Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen

This text on Animism is divided into three sections.  The first section introduces the study of Animism, describes tools for learning animistic worldviews, illustrates why participants of world religions are frequently animistic, and outlines the nature of change when adherents of various animistic traditions become Christian.  Because of its theological/biblical focus, the second part of the book is the most significant.  This part describes animistic beliefs and Judeo-Christian responses in both the Old and New Testaments.  It also suggests a theological model of Christian proclamation for animistic contexts.  The third section of the book is anthropological.  Chapters contrast types of animistic practitioners, methodologies of divination, and types of impersonal and personal spiritual power.  The conclusion of the book returns to theological reflection upon animistic practices by comparing Christian and animistic conceptions of sin and salvation.

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Table of Contexts

Part 1  Understanding Animism

    Chapter #1    The Meaning of Animism and Its Place in Today's World

    Chapter #2    Tools for Learning Animistic Worldviews

    Chapter #3    The Cosmic and the Earthly and the Issue of Syncretism

    Chapter #4    Change in Animistic Societies  

Part 2  Thinking Theologically in Animistic Contexts

    Chapter #5    Christianity and Animism: Contrasting Worldviews

    Chapter #6    Kingdom Theology: Introducing the Christian Perspective

Part 3  Analyzing Animistic Practices and Powers

    Chapter #7    Animistic Practitioners

    Chapter #8    The Animistic Practice of Divination

    Chapter #9    Impersonal Spiritual Forces

    Chapter #10  Personal Spiritual Beings

Conclusion: Sin and Salvation in Christianity and Animism


Copyright 1991 by Gailyn Van Rheenen

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