Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter introduces how the Book of Ruth sheds light in understanding elements of social organization. He dives into the etymology of different terms and analyzes genealogy.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter builds on his analysis on the Book of Ruth and shows how environment impacts human activity. He elaborates on how people still have the power to make a choice despite the parameters set by institutions.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter talks about the role of household and family and the different approaches people take in analyzing them. He also shows how people value nonmaterial resources such as truth and spiritual guidance.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter elaborates on social organization and space by looking at structure values in different communities. He also talks about the barriers of religious beliefs and customs between different people groups.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter shows how marriage is a primary social contract and what expectations are synonymous to that. He lectures on different types of marriage to highlight patterns in social organization.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter tackles the issues of status and gender roles in society. He compares and contrasts those who have noble character to those who have ignoble character.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter talks about the effects of authority and political power in modern day society as well as in the time of Ruth. He introduces different perspectives of how power is allocated and the hierarchy it inevitably creates.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter talks about both formal and informal associations that help to identify and relate to urban peoples. He shows how networking is an important and necessary asset in building relationship with others.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter stresses the importance of having a solid foundation with God and understanding of His will. He elaborates how conflict and division will arise without first having this partnership in individual endeavors.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter unpacks the complex social theory, linking common purposes to cultures standards. He shows how changes in power lead to hierarchy where interests, power and social action are dictated by it.
Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter closes out the series by inviting a couple to share their experiences in the field using the tools they cultivated through learning about social organization. Lingenfelter then shares his own testimony as to what impact this topic has made in his own life.