What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.
I have several different "native cultures". I was born and raised in the United States, in a heavily liberal suburban neighborhood, where religion was simply a hindrance. Ethnically, I'm Korean, and my parents were born in a very anti-religious community. I also lived for a period of time in China, which again rejects many religious aspects of life.
I don't think any of my experiences have completely changed my life. I have my own beliefs, which may be a benefit, as I discovered my own beliefs through logic and self exposure to the world.
One look at my bookshelf can tell you that my beliefs are quite strange indeed.
Next to Freud's Human Civilizations and its Discontents is a copy of the Message, and next to Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche lie several devotionals and another copy of the NIV. My whole life, I refused to stand out as a Christian who simply believes because he is told to believe a certain way. I get angry at the Christians who sit ignorantly, willing to perpetuate the stereotype of the "Dumb Southern Conservative Christian". For example: At Faith Academy in the Phillipines, they prepare their students for the real world ineptly. When debating liberals on evolution, their best refutation of scientific evolution and logical thinking is saying "evolution says we are direct descendents of monkeys" which is completely inaccurate, and the misguided three year olds view of evolution. To make things worse, they then started making monkey noises.
Yay.
I despise people who take their Christianity for granted. As one who grew up in society being told that religion was "bad" it took me a long time to gain my own views on my beliefs on this world and this reality
So, in conclusion, my native culture has left me little to ponder on. I outright refused to take such extreme views, regardless of which side of the spectrum that side represented. I have always made my own views from my own research and logic, not that of others.
6 comments:
Tim,
Good post. Obviously you've given thought to your spiritual life before. I agree with you totally about ignorant persons. I know I am not the smartest person in the world, but I have a hard time accepting things without experiencing them or deeply looking into them. I have a hard time with people who have accepted their faith without ever thinking about the alternative or asking tough questions or looking at evolution and asking how it fits in with a Biblical perspective. I am really going to appreciate your contributions to the discussion during class. Thanks for your post.
Tim, I am so glad that you are in our class this year. You are a deep thinker, who enjoys a challenge. I think the crux of all we do in life, should be to see others through the eyes of Christ. We are not to depend on our own narrow, partial knowledge but rather "trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. When we acknowledge God's wisdom and are less concerned about the lack of wisdom others reflect; we then are able to flourish spiritually. Keep your eyes on the prize...Mrs.Mc.
I feel like there are some ideas that I really agree and support. I like the part where you mentioned about not taking the extremities and believing in the things that you know, not of the others.
Good Post. You have shared many things about yourself, this is good.You talk a lot about how you have formed your views but have only shared a few, I would like to know more about your views and how you go about researching and using your own logic to form your own views.
"I have always made my own views from my own research and logic, not that of others." I liked that line as my post says the same ^_^. It was quite funny the way you randomly had a yay in the middle of your post. Going to read your next post as it is already up!
- Danika
This is a nice post and I like the design of the blog. I agree with many things that you mentioned here, some of the points reflect how I regard about the world. When you said that you don't think any of your experiences have changed your life, I find this the opposite when I reflect how my own experiences changed my viewpoint. It's always a pleasure to read your blog and I am looking forward to your next blog.
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