Reluctant Brilliance Post 1: Multiculturalism #everydaymay

So some writers in my community whose brilliance you can read here. Have now started to ask one another to write on certain topics.

The question posed to me was: How does multiculturalism affect our relationships (friendships, family, marriage, etc)? 

I would say the more easily answered question would be how doesn’t multiculrutalism affect our relationships; our integration and contact with other cultures within our community affects all of our relationships in multifaceted ways. 

Lets begin by defining what we mean when we use the term “multiculralism”. For the purpose of this discussion, multiculturalism refers only to the influence of more than one culture exsisting in the same space, for example in a marriage or friendship. It does not refer to an ideal of this interaction plays out, or have any positive or negative connotations or political agenda. I believe in order to answer a complexe question it is best to begin with the most simple building blocks. 

When we strip away the political jabber, the historical prejudice and our media’s influences from our perspective of multiculturalism we can then examine the affect of more than one culture tried to occupy the same space. There are three options when this happens, the first is that the interaction is benign. Culture A has a custom, habit or beliefe which does not challenge the custom, habits or beliefes of Culture B, but Culture B also does not see any need to adapt to it. The two can interact without conflict. The second option is that the interaction is enhancing. Culture A may have a custom, habit or beliefe which is different from Culture B, but Culture B finds it preferable to theirs and adaptes. The two are somewhat blended and both parties feel elevated because of it. The third option is there is conflit. Culture A has a custom, habit or beliefe which directly challenges a custom, habit, or beliefe of Culture B. In this instance, there is tension and both parties must work out which is more important, their ability to coexsist or their previously held customs, beliefe and habits.

It should also be noted that there is no hard and fast rule about how elements of cultures interact or that interactions stay the same. For example, lets say Adam is dating Bethany. During their courtship, Betheney may not find Adam’s view on child rearing confrontational or enhancing, in all likelihood she may not be thinking about it very much. During this phase of their relationship, the issue of child rearing is benign; however, if they get married and have children they will most likely have to renegoiate their views on childrearing as it is now at the forefront of their minds and this element will now have a new category.

So what do we do when we get to the point of negotiation? How do we interact with those we care about and love when we find our culture in conflict with theirs?

The first step is to identify the issue as a cultural issue. Have you and another person been going round and round for months about the same issue? I would take a look at where your cultures may be in conflict. If it is a cultural issue, move onto to step two. Just remember culture is not the only component in play, we are all designed with different purposes and when we don’t fully understand these designs, it can put us in conflict with others. Figuring out our design and how to work well with others is another topic.

Once you have discovered it really is a cultural issue, the next step is to bring the conflict under biblical authority. You have to understand, not all cultures are created equal or are perfect. Some excel in one area, such as respecting elders and parents, but may not be as good at compassion for the needy. Another culture may be excellent at finding solutions to the problems of the needy, but may not be very good at having a life of joy. Everyone has their blind spots and it is only by bringing our diversity and strangths under the authority of Jesus that we can hope to reconcile these differences and learn from one another.

God never designed us to be the same, he scattered the peoples of the world and one day He will bring us back together again; not to be a homeogenous blob rather to live in peace under His authority. 

Continuing the adventure, 

Jessica