Christian Foundation and Relationship to Cultural Diversity Essay Example

committing adultery, murder, stealing, or coveting. By loving our neighbors as ourselves, we fulfill the law and avoid doing wrong to them.

In my personal journey with Christ, I have learned the significance of loving every individual. Love has helped me overcome prejudice, disconnection, and stereotypes. There have been challenging moments where accepting those who appear different or behave differently from what I'm used to has been difficult. During these times, it is crucial for me to pause and reflect on my inner thoughts and biases towards them. It is important to remember that Christ teaches us to love others just as He loves the church.

When I reflect on my inner self, it is essential for me to examine the condition of my heart. It must remain open and unhardened in order for me to stay connected to my religious upbringing, values, and the transformative power of my relationship with Christ. There have been times when I have actively sought forgiveness from individuals or groups for my thoughts and occasional actions. To gain a deeper understanding of them as individuals or as a whole, I make it a point to sit down with them and engage in conversation.

The Significance of Engaging Different Cultures

In his book titled "Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life," Makoto Fujimura emphasizes the importance of adopting a fresh perspective on culture. He explains that culture should not be seen as something to conquer or lose but rather as a resource that we are called to carefully steward. According to Fujimura (2017), "Culture is like a garden that needs cultivation." Therefore, it is my duty to foster an environment of acceptance

and love around me. Regardless of their cultural background, race, ethnicity, gender, or age, it is my responsibility to share God's goodness and grace with the broken and lost world.

Even as younger generations reject Christ, religion, and faith, it is important to invest in them. We should work towards revitalizing their faith by reaching out to them. It is crucial to communicate that regardless of their background or affiliation with a specific group, Christ will always unconditionally embrace and love them. While engaging with other cultures may lead to segregation, there is nothing inherently wrong with individuals choosing to remain within their own groups.

To avoid alienating African Americans, Muslims, or Hispanics and promoting self-segregation, it is vital for me to refrain from imposing my cultural beliefs and values on them. It is crucial to prevent the creation of divisions that breed ignorance, mistrust, and racial conflict leading to prejudice. To effectively engage with diverse cultures, I should look to God's word as a whole rather than focusing solely on verses that hold personal significance for me. In his book, Trevin Wax explores two approaches to Christian cultural engagement.

There are two categories of Christians: the lie detector Christians and the complimentary Christians. Lie detector Christians critique any negative aspects within a culture, while complimentary Christians actively search for and emphasize the positive aspects. I personally choose to be part of the second group, which allows me to approach other cultural groups with empathy and discuss how Christ can inspire love and compassion for others in our hearts, without using Christian language that would endorse those groups (Wax, 2017).

Economic and Social Consequences (as an individual and our

Nation)

Cultural diversity has diverse effects on American society in terms of its social domain.

Celebrations and festivals are a unifying force that bring together people from different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. They provide an opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in the cuisine, fashion, art, and dance of diverse cultures. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, there is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Native American heritage and culture.

The festival brings together individuals from different regions worldwide, aiming to foster unity and diminish racial divides in society. However, it is crucial to recognize that discrimination and stereotypes can contribute to social turmoil, resulting in ethnic violence, riots, and aggressive demonstrations.

The presence of biases and prejudices between various groups can spark an argument regarding which ethnic group holds a higher position in society. The significant disparities among these groups can give rise to preconceived notions, perpetuating myths and misconceptions that are mistakenly accepted as absolute truths about a particular culture. The diverse festivals and celebrations that showcase various cultures have been introduced in towns, cities, and states throughout the United States and have stimulated financial progress in the tourism sector. Local cultural hubs like Chinatown have managed to compete against popular tourist destinations like Sea World, resulting in not only economic growth for Chinatown but also for the cities and states that house such cultural districts.

A diverse workforce brings additional skills and different approaches to the success of businesses and technological advancements, while also inspiring an innovative cultural work environment. Migrant workers in particular can benefit from this diversity as they may have connections globally, allowing for increased flow of goods, services, and labor to support business growth. This

helps break down racial barriers and bring talent from various cultures, ultimately contributing to a culturally diverse economy and population.

Integration of a Cultural Diverse Mindset (Into My Life and Career)

In both my personal life and professional career, I have enthusiastically embraced cultural diversity by fully accepting individuals and groups from different races, colors, ethnicities, sexes, and ages. Over time, I have developed a diverse network of friends and family members who identify as gay, Muslim, African American, Hispanic, Russian, among others. Each person comes from diverse backgrounds with their own distinct cultures. My main objective is to truly comprehend and value the unique culture of every individual.

I have a friend from Africa who serves with me in the U.S. Army. Together, we recently discussed his background, the challenges he faced while growing up, his decision to join the military, and eventually becoming an American citizen. On the other hand, I was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico where I was exposed to various cultures that had a profound impact on my development as a Christian individual. This upbringing taught me important values such as seeking knowledge and embracing individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Throughout my 21-year career in the Army, I have had the privilege of working within one of the most diverse environments found within the United States.

Interacting with a diverse range of individuals has taught me the value of contributions from people of all backgrounds. Through my deployments, I had the opportunity to engage with Muslim and Bosnian Serb communities, which deepened my understanding and appreciation for their cultures. Prior to serving in Iraq, I held biases and preconceived ideas about Muslims, especially after

9/11. However, these experiences opened my eyes to the fact that not all Muslims are terrorists and that they have no intention of destroying Western culture.

Impact on Personal Growth (Specific Examples and Details)

This course has expanded my perspective on historical stereotypes, preconceived notions, and biases that lead to racial discrimination and prejudice. It has helped me grasp the challenges, hardships, and frustrations faced by various ethnic groups in today's society. Discovering these hidden aspects within our society and media was a revelation that I hadn't realized prior to enrolling in this course.

According to our textbook, the television and movie industry has perpetuated negative stereotypes about Hispanics, Puerto Ricans, and other Latinos. These stereotypes include depicting them as drug dealers, kingpins, murderers, rapists, and even corrupt cops (Feagin ; Feagin, 2012). These portrayals only serve to reinforce biases imposed on these groups by other ethnicities. However, understanding the origins of these stereotypes has helped me develop a different perspective on these communities. Instead of seeing them as criminals, I now recognize their value as contributors to society. Furthermore, studying cultural diversity has strengthened my progress in forming relationships and avoiding assumptions about all Arab Americans or Middle Eastern Americans seeking to destroy cultures and beliefs different from theirs. Following the events of 9/11, I had regarded these groups as my enemies.

During my deployment, I experienced a strong urge to inflict harm or death upon all of them. However, my perspective shifted when we entered Iraq and deposed Saddam Hussein. It became clear to me that my biases had unjustly branded Arabs and Middle Eastern individuals as terrorists. I recognized that my beliefs were influenced by the

actions of an extremist faction. Gradually, I started understanding and educating myself about the rich array of cultures within the United States.

While studying and learning from other students in this class, I have also attended local events here in El Paso, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico celebrating the heritage and culture of African Americans, Germans, Hispanics and Native Americans. By attending these events, I continue to grow in my knowledge and understanding of each one of these fascinating cultures that are rich in history.

Conclusion

The fact remains that the U.S. is a country characterized by cultural diversity that enables our success as a nation.

Despite the challenges caused by racism, stereotyping, misconceptions, and preconceived notions in our nation's history, it is crucial to acknowledge that cultural diversity is fundamental to our country. Society must overcome personal biases to bridge the racial divide and strengthen our nation. Both individuals and groups should actively combat segregation and racism, whether it originates from their own community or another ethnic group. The United States provides opportunities and freedom to many; however, resolving or narrowing the cultural gap will be challenging if political institutions, bureaucracies, society, or ethnic groups perpetuate the racial divide for their own interests.

If the U.S. possesses an open perspective and is ready to gain knowledge about various cultures, it has the potential to truly transform into a "melting pot".