inculturation

Inculturation is the process by which new expressions of the Christian faith emerge as the gospel spreads into new cultures. It begins when missionaries arrive in a new region, and converts gradually give the faith a local expression after an initial cultural break.1

Theological concepts like soteriology (the study of salvation) often lend themselves to inculturation. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, Jesus is sometimes viewed as a Healer, Liberator, or Ancestor. These local interpretations are stimulated by New Testament presentations of Christ, and in turn, the gospel can change the local language and culture, most creatively achieved through liturgy and the arts.1