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Understanding Folk Religion: A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices

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Don't be misled by the title. Don't be tempted to think this is a book only for missionaries ministering in contexts of tribal societies or among Folk Catholics, Muslims etc. What this book deals with is a plethora of religious ideas and questions that you will confront in any society, urban, rural or tribal. It is concerned with the everyday problems and issues experienced or sensed by ordinary people in any culture, and how they answer them with their folk beliefs (within or outside the stream of organized religion) -- what the writers call the "middle zone" between the high level divine/supernatural realm and the material/tangible world.

The book looks at how Christians can address the questions people raise about this middle zone and it deals with four main areas: (1)What is the meaning of life, and how the living must contend with the problems of death; (2) The "good life" of health, prosperity, safety, welfare and progeny/descendents in the face of poverty, ill health, suffering, danger, disaster, infant mortality etc; (3) Concern for knowledge of the past, understanding of the present and insight into the future, in order to know how to live; and (4) Questions of morality, right and wrong.

I highly recommend this book. It is comprehensive in scope, theological as well as missiological, and above all it is practical and well illustrated with mini "case studies" and examples from the cultures the three authors are familiar with.

This book is a great eye opener for those studying religion and missions. Everyone involved in (cross cultural) ministry needs to reflect on his or her own christian worldview and come to the understanding of the influence of western culture on western theology. This book is from an anthropological perspective well documented on folkreligion and from an evangelical theological perspective well balanced in dealing with the occult. In a curriculum for worldreligion this book is included in a christian bible college in the Netherlands, not only for missionstudents; all students in ministry need this subject on how religion from below affects the daily practises of people.

Understanding Folk Religion is a highly useful work for gaining and understanding of the dynamics involved in folk religion and how it plays out in the lives of people all around the world, even in America. In reading this book one comes to the understanding that as a whole the Church has failed to provide answers for the real life issues people deal with on a day to day basis.

In so doing what has happened is the formation of a "split level Christianity." The authors write "the central concern of this book is the persistence of a two-tier Christianity around the world despite centuries of instructions and condemnations by missionaries and church leaders" (pg.15). Countless deeply committed Christians both worship God and attend church faithfully while also visiting the local shamans and witch doctors in hopes of being delivered from demonic oppression.

One of the useful aspects of this book is how the authors present the critical issues and follow it up with a Christian response. With the issue of Split level Christianity the first section discusses the background of how this came to be (e.g., a modern worldview that denies the existence of a spirit realm and thus not addressing these issues in a missionary context). Many times missionaries either attempt to stamp it out or just let it go. Instead, the authors assert the need for critical contextualization that in the end brings about a transformation of the culture thereby providing real life solutions for the problems of everyday life (e.g., the gospel). (See Ch. 1).

This is just one of many issues addressed in this important book. Don't let it fool you either, folk religion is not limited to traditional cultures, it is alive and well even in the Western world, why else would the daily newspaper have a section on horoscopes?

This is an excellent book to give an understanding of different worldviews. Particularly useful in understanding people with animistic beliefs.

Don't be misled by the title. Don't be tempted to think this is a book only for missionaries ministering in contexts of tribal societies or among folk religionists. What this book deals with is a plethora of religious ideas and questions that are commont in any society, whether urban, rural or tribal. It is concerned with the everyday problems and issues experienced or sensed by ordinary people in any culture, and how they answer them with their folk beliefs (within or outside the stream of organized religion). The book addresses what the writers call the "middle zone" between the high-level divine/supernatural realm and the material/tangible world.

The book looks at how Christians can address the nitty-gritty questions people raise about life and how they seek answers in this middle zone. It deals with four main areas: (1)What is the meaning of life, and how can the living contend with the problems of death; (2) We all desire it, but how can we assure the "good life" of health, prosperity, safety, welfare and progeny/descendents in the face of poverty, ill health, suffering, danger, disaster, infant mortality etc; (3) Everyone is concerned with their past, and wants to understand the present and gain insights into the future, in order to know how to live; and (4) We all have questions of morality, what is right and what is wrong.

Understanding Folk Religion gets to grips with these basic questions. It is comprehensive in scope, theological and missiological, but above all it is practical and well illustrated with mini "case studies" and examples from the cultures the three authors are familiar with in Melanesia, Asia, Africa and North America.

This book is way cooler than it sounds.

I recently finished reading "Understanding Folk Religion" by Hiebert, Shaw and Tienou for the second time. In doing so I was reminded of why this book has had such an impact on my approach toward life, mission, people, evangelism, discipleship and church. This book is essentially a guide to understanding how and why people view the world as they do and how as Christians we should respond. At the same time it is more than a guide for understanding, it is a tool for understanding. The subtitle captures it well, "A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices." In these pages you will find direction in doing just that.

The book is broken up into four parts. The first section focuses on developing a model and method for understanding religion and culture. The next two sections focus on fundamental aspects of religious beliefs and practices respectively. Finally the book closes with a look into what a Christian response to "folk religions" should be.

Don't let the term "folk religion" cause you to stumble or balk. This book has the potential to be immensely helpful in your overall understanding of any religion or culture whether around the world or here at home. I highly recommend "Understanding Folk Religion" to the person looking to better understand themselves and those around them with the intention of making disciples of all nations, including our own.