NRM6590EN - Worldviews and Cultures of New Religious Movements

Course description

Development of a critical understanding of the roles played by worldview and culture in the formation of new religious movements. Attention will be given to analyzing how new religious movements construct a sense of reality for adherents and how that impacts the lived experience.

How this course benefits students

Students desiring to engage members of new religious movements need to be able to both understand the worldviews of new religious movements, but also have the ability to contextualize the gospel in order to effectively minister to those in new religious movements. This course will provide students with the knowledge of how worldviews construct reality, and basic worldview tenets of new religious movements. Having this knowledge is essential to being able to contextualize the message of the gospel for members of new religious movements

Why this course is important

Worldviews and culture are two powerful forces that shape who we are as individuals. Yet, these two forces operate in the background of our lives, mostly unnoticed. By analyzing both the role and content of worldviews and culture, students will be better equipped to minister to those in new religious movements.

Credit hours
3 hours
Subject area
New Religious Movements
Educational level
Master
Learning type
Instructional
Prerequisites
None
Upcoming terms
Pending
* Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Registrar's office with schedule questions.

How this course relates to missional core values

Biblically based

This course will provide students with several examples of worldviews that contrast with a biblical worldview. Doing so will cause students to reflect on the nature of a biblical perspective of reality.

Missionally driven

In order to engage with those in new religious movements, students will need to have an adequate understanding of who they are ministering to. This course can provide students with that information.

Contextually informed

New religious movements differ from traditional mainstream religions. In order to effectively engage them, one must be aware of the unique worldviews and cultural milieus of such groups.

Interculturally focused

New religious movements have worldviews and cultures that are unique. This course will provide students with the resources to understand and interact with those worldviews and cultures.

Practically minded

This course seeks to equip the student to practically engage with adherents of new religious movements.

Experientially transformed

Students are encouraged to interact with adherents of new religious movements.