How does Faith relate to the world in which we live?
In a way, the world in which we live only exists from and by faith. Without faith, what would our world be? This is, honestly, a question that I don't want to hear the answer to. Modern society, as corrupt as it is now, was based on pillars of faith. Many societies are based on The Ten Commandments, The Golden Rule, or other similar biblical principles. However, in modern times we seem to have forgotten our divine roots. Though I carry my own faith and can see God in everything, this is not the case for the entire world. One could argue that many aspects of our current world are, indeed, Godless. However, I know that, no matter how far gone we seem to be, there is no point in which we are unredeemable.
In the beginning of my junior year I was introduced to the famous works of Flannery O'Connor. Because it was only the start, I did not notice the outstanding theme that O'Connor portrays in almost every story. However, as the year progressed, I noticed that at least one, if not more, of the main characters is always offered redemption, no matter how iniquitous they were. This opened my eyes wider to the power of God's saving grace, and at that point I realized that this world, crumbling in it's prodigality, is far from unreachable.
In my reading of Don Richardson's Peace Child, this view of almighty mercy was intensified. I saw the horror of the cannibalistic Sawi, and after all of that, I saw the purity of God's redemption being poured out on them, embellished with God's love. This was the final piece of the puzzle for me to see that faith and God are all around me, and they reach out to everyone, not just believers.
As far as other relations go, faith is the like an invisible skeleton to our global community. In the places where language, race, culture, and education create clear separations among the people of this world, faith translates into every tongue, every nation, every custom, and every level of knowledge. Countless stories of idolatry and false gods fill the bible and history text books. This proves that man was created to worship, whether it be God or not, we were created with that desire. We created society with this need, and live life with it as well. In light of this, it is impossible to say that faith is not a part of the world in which we live.
What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors:
Socrates once said "I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." In a strange way, this is who I am. I am someone who is not fooled by a good grade, for I know it is only a fraction of the knowledge to be learned in this world. I have experienced two cultures, and these two are the only ones I know well. I do not pretend to be an expert, for I know I am not. I do not claim either culture as my own, for I can not longer belong to just one, and yet, I cannot belong to both.
Natively, I come from the culture that I have spent most of my time immersed in: North Carolinian culture. I was born and raised in The United States in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here I was home schooled and raised by loving, Christian parents. I grew up with three brothers two sisters, I was the fifth born out of six. I was raised to love others, love knowledge, and, ultimately, to love God. In this environment of being home schooled and church-going, my friends were nearly all Christians. However, it wasn't until I made the choice to accept Christ that my religious world views started to truly take form. All the things I'd been taught, the things I'd seen, and the values that had been instilled in me changed my neutral perspective to see the world through Christian eyes. Life in The States continued own while I clutched to what I've always known, and for the most part, I had no drastic change.When I was fifteen, my roots were shaken and I had to accept a drastic change, in every way. My parents were offered a job, a ministry, and an adventure. This adventure took as as far from our comfort zones as possible: South Korea.
Currently, I live in Daejon, South Korea and am experiencing this entirely new culture.I remain in a Christian environment, however, I face more challenges. Through the secular immersion I've experienced through a private school, I have seen another side of my world view. Because of the new exposure, I must define my view and my standards even more and choose what I believe is best. I've seen the other side of religion and world views. While this is not always a pretty site, it is one I must face. Because of this I can see the world in a new light of "religion", because I do not see my choice of Christianity as religion, but rather, a relationship with the one being who will never stop loving me, and that's God.
