Lothar Käser Book order

Missionaries often face unpredictable and challenging journeys as they strive to share the gospel, adapting to unfamiliar cultures and languages. The life story of Wilhelm Friedrich and Elisabeth Kärcher illustrates these complexities, highlighting their experiences in navigating different social systems while remaining committed to their mission. Their narrative reveals the profound fulfillment found in their calling, even as they encounter the unexpected challenges posed by global politics, leading to remarkable and sometimes incredible events in their lives.

People in non-western societies have distinct conceptions of personhood and personality that differ from Western views. Ethnographers often begin their studies by referencing their own definitions of man, particularly their notions of the soul, seeking comparable elements in the cultures they investigate. This approach can yield findings that superficially resemble Western concepts but often overlooks critical aspects unique to the studied culture. Limited language proficiency further complicates these descriptions, leading to significant gaps and misinterpretations, sometimes resulting in the erroneous conclusion that foreign concepts of body, soul, mind, and spirit align with Western ideas. In contrast, this study focuses on the inhabitants of Chuuk (Federated States of Micronesia), emphasizing their specific concepts of personhood through their language and cultural context. By exploring the emic categories that the islanders use to understand their world, the author provides a more nuanced and accurate representation of their beliefs. The author, a professor of anthropology, conducted five years of fieldwork in the South Pacific and has extensive research experience in Africa, Asia, and South America.

In recent decades, foreign cultures have become significant for Europeans seeking holiday destinations and professionals like teachers, doctors, and missionaries collaborating with local churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, development agencies often overlook the valuable insights from ethnology and cultural anthropology that could aid these professionals in integrating and working effectively in diverse environments. This book addresses these challenges. While there are numerous well-written textbooks for future theorists in ethnology and anthropology, development aid practitioners find these texts overly theoretical and difficult to digest. A clear and simple introduction to essential concepts is needed for Europeans navigating foreign cultures. This book fills that gap, providing an accessible guide to the ethnological literature relevant to their work, helping them recognize and engage with the cultural realities they encounter. It is aimed not only at development workers but also at students of ethnology and visitors to ethnological museums. The author, a professor of anthropology with extensive experience, has spent five years in the South Pacific and conducted research in Africa, Asia, and South America, ensuring a well-informed perspective on these vital issues.

In simple terms, animism can be viewed as a form of religion that has roots dating back to the Palaeolithic period, serving as the foundation for the religious behaviors of early humans. Today, animistic beliefs are still prevalent among pre-literate societies, such as hunter-gatherers and nomadic communities. Even within literature-based religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, traces of animism can be found, particularly in their folk practices. However, in European and Western contexts, animism is often conflated with occultism and misunderstood due to a lack of knowledge about its conceptual foundations. This misunderstanding poses challenges for individuals from these cultures working in animistic societies, whether in development aid, NGOs, or missionary work. Animism encompasses not only religious elements but also a comprehensive worldview that shapes how individuals navigate existence. Understanding this is crucial for effective engagement with these communities. This textbook offers insights into animism from the perspective of those who practice it, guiding readers through its principles and the roles of mediums and shamans within these societies. The author, an experienced ethnologist, draws on extensive fieldwork in Oceania, Africa, Asia, and South America to provide a well-rounded exploration of the topic.