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Is culture a monolith, or diverse?

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Ivor
Sep 11 2007
10:22 am

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[img:2baf75eb87]http://www.nigeria.com/Channels/Religion/Religious_Symbols.jpg[/img:2baf75eb87]
Culture is born of the innermost desires and aspirations of human beings. A faith that grows out of one’s beliefs is the moving force, that manifests itself as behavior. Faith implies a religion. From the symbols given above, it can be seen that there is a multitude of religions in the World. Each religion and its practice brings to fore a unique culture. Thus it may be said that culture is not a monolith, the same everywhere, but a diverse cacophony of different modes of behavior. So when we say that [b:2baf75eb87]CULTURE IS NOT OPTIONAL[/b:2baf75eb87], are we not treating it as a unitary monolith, while ignoring its amazing diversity?

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Ivor
Sep 26 2007
09:15 am

I could not have agreed more to what you have said. Most Christians, or even members of other religious groups seem to think that if they have performed the rituals prescribed by their religion, they have done enough. Now they can go about doing whatever they want in their lives. What we have to understand is the fact that we live in a community, with an active culture. We need to apply the principles taught to us by our faith, virtues like charity, faith and compassion, during the course of our day to day lives. One point has to be clarified, however, and that is WHAT IF PRACTICE OF OUR FAITH IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OUR LOCAL CULTURE? I would appreciate a reply to that one, please!

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grant
Sep 28 2007
12:18 pm

I was thinking about this topic a few days ago when I was watching "God Grew Tired of Us", a documentary film about the "lost boys" of Sudan, some of whom came to the U.S. as refugees. The refugees talked a lot about trying to hold onto their culture, because if you lose their culture, they said, you lose yourself. They had trouble relating to an American Christian culture that celebrated Christ’s birth with Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But as the film went on, they found ways of working within that cultural context to bring change and relief to their brothers still in Africa.

We should include in this conversation the idea that Christians live out their Christianity within a certain cultural context. But again, this is all culture. Dan’s example of how to answer these questions is great because his answers show cultural engagement is specific and directed by particular situations. If you find yourself in America as a 30 year old businesswoman with a house and a husband and some expendable income living in the suburbs you will have to make particular decisions and commitments on how to live your life as a Christian. If you are a Sudanese refugee, you will make very different decisions. This is how God provides for His creation. If human beings are making spaceships with bombs on them or are tearing down trees without replacing them or are even wasting water out of the tap, they are not living up to God’s image as care-takers and good "cultivators" of the earth. If Sudanese leaders are enacting a program of male sterilization and genocidal execution, they are not living up to God’s Word for creation in their cultural context.

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dan
Sep 28 2007
03:49 pm

whereas if you were faced with a group of mutant 10-headed radioactive psychotic humans, then genocide might be the Christianly way to go. sterilization under those circumstances might also be something Jesus would do. not sure though. maybe it’s better to stick to grant’s real-life examples.

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Ivor
Sep 28 2007
07:33 pm

country that I live in is not secular, but has Islam as its official religion. Though the majority of the people are moderate in their approach towards religion, but these days a more extremist element, is vying for the souls of the people. I for one watching from here, saw the US as secular in government policy, with no scruples as regards morality, and the evangelicals, of the so called [b:23e2a1d04d]BIBLE BELT[/b:23e2a1d04d], including plain folks of other areas as well. We get quite a few evangelists from the US, who preach [b:23e2a1d04d]SALVATION[/b:23e2a1d04d], but totally ignore the existing realities and present problems, culture and opportunities. For this reason I enjoy reading comments of you guys , fellow members of *cino, and the environmental awareness that it implies. If one can stay on the proper path himself, that is like Mathew saying that "enough for the day the problems thereof." Is it proper to take the moral high ground, and think that one has come in a position to SAVE others? When and how can one know that he or she has reached such a stage or state or condition to feel SAVED, and start saving others? [/color:23e2a1d04d]

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grant
Sep 29 2007
12:43 pm

We just moved into a poorer Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago that has been known for drug activity and gang violence but is in the process of gentrifying as of late. One reaction of family members who are Christian believers (from the suburbs) is to warn of the dangers of the neighborhood, which we are already aware of, but it seems like the suggestion is that we white folks who come from middle class families should not put ourselves in danger…but it’s alright for the Puerto Ricans and African-Americans who live here. The second type of Christian reaction might be that this is a great opportunity to witness to the folks here. I find that attitude kind of naive and disrespectful. If anything, I am learning more from them than they will ever learn from me. The most noticeable thing I am learning is empathy. The immigration issue, for instance, has a human face for me that it would not have if I didn’t have Hispanic neighbors. There are many things I can do to be a light in the world, but for now I will simply try to be a good neighbor. And I will listen to the great salsa music pouring out of the houses from my porch and thank God for revealing Himself everywhere, with or without me, and despite me and my own limitations. And I will keep my eyes open for those ten-headed radioactive creatures dan was talking about too. Maybe I can tell ‘em about Jesus before we have to kill ’em all. At least to give them time to repent of their ten heads. That’s unnatural!

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Ivor
Sep 30 2007
11:09 am

key word that you mentioned in your post is [b:2ddfabcc84]EMPATHY[/b:2ddfabcc84]. It is only by being culturally conscious, that one can understand the common humanity of all mankind. Certain ACTS of a person or community may be undesirable, but a community itself is not undesirable, even if it has elements, that are different from those of the community to which you belong. We must bear our cross and FOLLOW THE LEADER, that is, every word of his should manifest itself as a deed of ours! Otherwise, the HOLIER THAN THOU type of character becomes evident. Also we should beware of the ten headed monster, because it does have the power to induce us all toward a collective suicide! I wish you all peace and a tolerant attitude towards all.[/color:2ddfabcc84][size=9:2ddfabcc84][/size:2ddfabcc84]