inculturation

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noun

The adaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture.

RareScrabble 15

Meanings

nouninculturation (countable and uncountable, plural inculturations)

plural inculturations

  1. countableuncountableChristianityThe adaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture.

    I think that Western culture poses particular problems with regard to inculturation. You do not find theologians demanding that we be inculturated, adopt the norms of our society, and yet that is often what is happening.

    1999, Timothy Radcliffe, Sing a new song: the Christian vocation, Dominican Publications, →ISBN, page 255
    1 more example

    The expression of Catholicism within the total culture of India would be an example of “inculturation.” It emphasizes the adaptation of the faith to a variety of cultures rather than a process whereby the culture is modified to fit an expression of the faith that is foreign to it.

    1987, Joseph P. Fitzpatrick, One church, many cultures: challenge of diversity, Sheed & Ward, →ISBN, page 51

Translations

French inculturation
  • inculturationadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
German Inkulturation
  • Inkulturationadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
Polish inkulturacja
  • inkulturacjaadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
Portuguese inculturação
  • inculturaçãoadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
Spanish inculturación, inculturización
  • inculturaciónadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
  • inculturizaciónadaptation of Christian teachings in a non-Christian culture
Cite this entry
APA

inculturation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inculturation

MLA

“inculturation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inculturation. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inculturation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inculturation.

Source: inculturation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.