What Should We Do When We are Confronted with Other Cultures?

     We should be extremely careful when we confront other cultures. First, we should not be dogmatic and automatically dismiss the other cultures’ ideas and traditions because we are never sure whether our culture and its belief are actually right. However, we should also not accept everything and change who we are and what we believe in because those ideas and beliefs may be corrupt and immoral. Since every culture has different ideas of what is right and wrong, we must be very prudent when we decide what to accept and not to accept.

     I believe that there are no RIGHT or DEFINITE ways to act when we are confronted with other cultures. However, I think that is necessary to first study more about those cultures by learning their language, their belief and custom, and the origins of those beliefs and traditions. If we do not understand the thoughts behind those cultures, we will become dogmatic and stubborn in our belief that our culture is the “correct” culture. We not respect the new cultures because we believe that those societies are queer or even repulsive, so we will never accept those new cultures.

     After we know more about the new culture, we should compare our culture with the new culture. Where do these two cultures come from? What do these two cultures believe to be right and wrong? Why do these cultures believe these things? Which ideas harm people? By comparing the two cultures, we will be able to determine which ideas are right and which are wrong. However, we should not decide on what to accept based on the factor of popularity. Just because others believe that something is right does not necessarily mean it is right.

     Let me give you an example. As a Chinese Christian girl living with an atheist family in a Korean society while attending an American school, I was confronted with many different cultures ever since I was very young. I knew I could not live only by one culture, so I learned about all the cultures I was surrounded by as thoroughly as possible. Then, I had to ponder on which parts I was going to accept. I did not necessarily choose the easiest or the most popular things, such as the Chinese culture telling me to hide my weakness. My decisions were based on what I believed was right.

     Finally, when we are confronted with something in a culture that is extremely immoral, we should try to change that part of the culture. We should not do it by force though. Don Richardson confronted some elements in the Papua New Guinean culture by teaching them his own culture and allowed them to choose between the two culture. Likewise, we should tell those people our belief and explain why we consider that part of the culture so corrupted.

Is My Culture the Potter and My Religious World View the Clay?

My mother always told me that parents are the most important thing in a child’s life. Good, ethical mother and father will mold and shape a child’s belief, moral, and life in general.

However, I have to disagree with my mother by saying that I believe there is someone who is of greater importance than my parents. My true potter is my wonderful, almighty God.

I was born in a Chinese family living in Korea who believed that exposing your tears and weaknesses to others was a dangerous and foolish thing because other people can easily betray you. Also, being atheists, all of my family believed that money was valuable.

Ironically, my parents sent me to be educated in a Christian international school called Taejon Christian International School. Through this school, I became, according to my family, “Americanized.” I believed that being vulnerable was being human and that it was perfectly alright to trust people and be honest to each other. These beliefs that I had were incomprehensible to my parents.

However, what was more incomprehensible and shocking to my parents was my discovery of God. When I was younger, I didn’t really understand or appreciate what being a Christian really meant. However, as I grew older and more mature, I came to realize how much God had to sacrifice and how much He loved us. I also learned that being a Christian was more than simply declaring “I am a Christian.” Understanding these things, in 9^th grade, I truly accepted God to be my Savior, my Father, and the potter of my life.

After that, God became everything in my life. Every time I meet a sister or brother in Christ, I am overjoyed, and if I hear someone has converted into a Christian, I am ecstatic. I converse with my Dad everyday with everything and trust Him with absolutely everything. I try very hard to love and forgive others and treat them the way I would want to be treated. My very morals and beliefs are from His word: the Bible. Most of all, I am completely, utterly, and absolutely in love with my amazing Dad. I truly believe with all my heart that God has truly shaped my life and view. He has become the essence of who I am.

Now, don’t get me wrong. My parents are still extremely important in my life. I continue to love them with every fiber of my being. However, my parents and their beliefs did not shape me. They were not my potter.

So, who am I? I am Chinese who lives in Korea but is most comfortable in an American society. I believe families are important but that God is the most important. I believe in vulnerability and trust but know all about betrayal and hurt. I have a biological older brother as well as many sisters and brothers in Christ. I am a daughter of my incredible Father and a daughter of my wonderful mother and father, who are not part of my spiritual family.

I am truly an indefinable girl.