Cultural Assumptions Part 1

1. Cultural AssumptionsPart 1 Two major problems that missionaries face are misunderstandings and premature judgments—even when they are aware of them.

2. Studying World Views • World Views are not obvious—we must infer basic assumptions from their beliefs and behavior • Look for similarities through many cultural beliefs and practices • Examine the language to discover the categories • Study symbols and rituals • Often one can see the basic assumptions of another culture easier than their own. • Everyone learns their culture as children, then later take it for granted • Foreigners often see things we don’t, so we should listen to them. • Often we can see our culture more clearly after living in another culture • Ways to study a cultural World View • Examine common themes that run through a culture • Concepts may be expressed differently, but root meaning is the same • North Americans [henceforth, NAs] desire material comfort and possessions • Evaluate each other on this basis • Find it difficult to adjust to living conditions elsewhere

3. NA and Other World Views • A Real and Rational World • Analytical Approach • A Mechanistic World View • Individualism • Equality • Priority of Time over Space • Emphasis on Sight

4. 1. A Real and Rational World • Orderly and operating according to natural laws that can be discovered, harnessed and understood by human reason • Matter obeys the laws of physics and chemistry • Animals respond to laws of biology, psychology and sociology • Science is vital in our society. We are dependent upon it for our lifestyle • Because our world view is real we take history seriously • Distinguish between events and myths, fact and fiction, reality and illusion • World View rooted in Judeo-Christian belief that God created the universe • God exists outside the universe, but it is dependent upon the Creator

5. Other views • In S. SE Asia the outside world is seen as an illusion, dreams in the mind of a god! • People are only the projection of that dream • To discover reality, they must look within themselves by meditation, while realizing that they are but a part of one universal spirit • They see little ultimate value in science and examination of the external world • The Christian appeal to history as proof of the gospel makes little sense to one who sees all history as merely a figment of the imagination! Biblical stories are seen as myths, not records of facts.

6. 1. Cartesian Dualism • A shift took place when the gospel was translated into Neo-Platonic world view of the Greeks • Biblical dualism (God and Creation) including spirits, humans and nature, was replaced by a dualism between spirit and matter, soul and body • Greek dualism has dominated Western thought since 16th Century leading to distinction between science and Bible/Religion • At first Science was a servant to Christian faith, but science gained independence, then dominance of thought. • Science explains natural world – Religion explains spiritual destinies • This dualism led Western missionaries to distinguish between “spiritual ministries” (evangelism-pastoral care) and “social gospel” (solving material problems) • By the introduction of Western science into schools and hospitals, often the result has been secularism. • The missionary’s science is accepted but his spiritual teaching is rejected • Most cultures do not separate between natural and supernatural

7. 2. Human verses Nature • Westerners distinguish between human and other forms of life—humans having unique value • Arose from a world view that humans have an eternal soul and were created in the image of God • Other cultures see human life as one kind among many forms of life • Nature itself is thought to be alive • Animals and inanimate objects all have their own spirits with not distinction in value • NAs see humans as unique and in charge of the Natural World • Man must tame nature and make it serve them • This belief lead NAs to study the world and develop their science and technology • Results in a “combat” mentality—“beat the heat”, “Fight disease”, “Save the planet”, “Conquer space” • These often resulted in destructive exploitation of nature with little concern for ecological system

8. More • Other cultures assume humans are part of nature and not opposed to it. Japanese architecture seeks to combine and harmonize nature and building construction • Jews saw themselves as gardeners of nature, which was seen basically as good and kind. The command to “subdue” the earth meant to “care for” nature. • The hostile view of Westerners came from the Greek, not Bible • Colombian mestizos do not see themselves as controlling or integrating nature, but as overwhelmed by it. • Nature is dangerous and inhabited by spirits • People are feel helpless and distrusting. • This attitude extends to social and political life

9. 3. Materialism and property • Due to dualism between spiritual and material realities NAs tend to judge others by what the own. • Success is measured more by quantity of material wealth and physical well-being, than by intellectual or spiritual gain or pursuits. • Evident in NA business practice • Emphasis on profit rather than employee benefits • Little space for aged, disabled or slow • In crisis, low level employees are released before a few higher paid are let go. • NAs tend to judge other cultures by technological advances • Missionaries see poverty, lack of comforts as negatives: cars vs. carts or cycles, electricity vs. oil lamps, gas stoves and refrigerators vs campfire and dried/smoked foods, sanitary toilets vs. bush. • NAs consider it right to be well off. • Expect rapid transportation, clean foods, comfortable homes with modern conveniences (heating and hot water)

10. 4. Rights of Ownership • Emphasis on material prosperity as belief that property is privately owned. • NAs buy land, houses, cars, and no one can use them without our permission • Property is sold without permission of relatives and neighbors • In Tribal world view this concept is just the opposite: everything is owned by everyone, all is shared. The community is one. • Three groups must be considered: sacred ancestors, the living, and the yet unborn. All three must be consulted. • Missionaries have a difficulty understanding this issue.

11. 5. Progress • NAs believe in progress: a constantly better way of life (especially in a material sense) • It is believed that basic problems are technological, needing more scientific research and money. This solves everything. • Progress means physical comfort, good health, high standards, devoid of hardship and dangers • The assumption is made that there are enough resources for all • “Lift” eventually occurs from this emphasis • Improvements in life and education move up the social ladder • Most of the world believe that basic resources are limited and in short supply—not enough for all. Everyone must compete for them. • If one wants to get ahead, another must loose out. Thus often no one is encouraged to break out of the mold, but to keep their place and fit into society as it is.

12. II. Analytical Approach A. NAs love to analyze situations: since the world is assumed orderly, cause-and-effect reasoning work, thus we can study why things happen and remedy what goes wrong. 1) With enough time and money we can solve anything 2) This problem solving approach affects most of life • When an accident occurs we want to know what went wrong, who is at fault, we want to fix the blame and make corrections • If organizations have difficulties or do not meet goals, we assume there is a problem we can solve • In other cultures the world is incomprehensible or is beyond human control • We see this as “fatalism” when the people make no effort to change • Many accept the world as is • Others see the world with many interlinked causes and effects • Planning is difficult and blame cannot be fixed nor improvements made

13. B. Either/or Thinking • NAs tend to sort reality into opposing categories: a two-fold judgment based on principles. • A mentality characterized by moral-immoral, legal-illegal, right-wrong, sin-virtue, success-failure, clean-dirty, civilized-primitive, practical-impractical, secular-religious. • They distinguish between work and play • Work is done for a living, includes submission to a boss, but play is relaxation and enjoyment • To be without work is a social leper • Work is serious, play is fun. At work we are a machine, at play we are intensely personal • This dichotomy between work and play is incomprehensible to much of world • Work and play are combined: fishing, building a house, planting crops are combined with dancing, singing and sharing • Another dichotomy of NA thinking is Public and Private • In public we on best behavior, conforming to society’s norms • In private we can do as we wish

14. C. Planning • In a rationally orderly world it is possible to plan for the future to set goals and achieve them • We believe people have power of choice, control over our lives, can do whatever we want. • Implicit in this mentality is responsibility: success is rewarded; failure is blamed • Some societies do not believe in planning • They think it wrong to do so • Westerners export management skills based on planning

15. D. Pragmatism • Planning means examining several solutions and choosing between them, which one works best, which one is true • Seldom ask if the goals are worthwhile • Rarely judge if the means we use are “good”: it is assumed, if it works, it is good! • In much of the world this attitude is bad • They feel that being a good person and building relationships are more important than a job well done • How we live and relate to others is a priority.

16. III. A Mechanistic World View a. Introduction • We see nature as a machine in which actions of parts are determined by external forces (laws) • At first science was “mechanistic” (17th cent), then social sciences adjusted to mechanistic views for humans and society. • This view dominated our thinking as seen in the factory and bureaucracy. • As we think nature is composed of lifeless atoms and chemicals controlled by impersonal forces (laws), • So we organize people as cogs in a machine, bureaucracies standardize roles (secretaries, managers, nurses, etc) with no personal involvement, just get the job don. • In mechanistic world we control nature and humans if we know the right formulas—completing tasks take priority over relationships. • Opposite to most of world views which treat nature and humans as living beings • Relationships are more important than tasks • NAs are seen as rude and impersonal • Missionaries are always too busy to talk. They appear to have wrong priorities.

17. b. Production and Profits • This priority is the main factors in factories and bureaucracies and seen as the keys to success • Must keep busy • Status in society is measured by their occupation (status) and income • In the non-western world “being” and “becoming” have priority over “doing.” • The contemplative person is respected (intellectuals, mystics, or gurus) • In NA it is the sportsman, rock star or corporate executive • NAs look for “movers and shakers” who get things done, rather than looking for wise men who take time to think

18. c. Quantification • In a Mechanistic world everything can be quantifiably measured needed to determine production and profit • Along with quantification goes an emphasis on scale: more, bigger, better • Non-westerners think this mentality devalues our existence • Assembly-line mentality • Jobs are broken down into small tasks (fragmentation), arranged sequentially and done by different people. • This allows for standardization • Permits getting consistent results • Fragmentation is unknown where craftsmanship is valued • Each worker works to make a vision into reality • What he produces is part of himself. He is an artist.

19. d. Assembly-line mentality • Jobs are broken down into small tasks (fragmentation), arranged sequentially and done by different people. • This allows for standardization • Permits getting consistent results • Fragmentation is unknown where craftsmanship is valued • Each worker works to make a vision into reality • What he produces is part of himself. He is an artist.

20. IV. Individualism a. Introduction • One of the most fundamental themes of NA world view is that each individual is an autonomous person with his/her own personal identity. • From early age we are to think and choose for ourselves, given our own personal properties (toys) and encouraged to stand up for our rights, develop our opinions, solve our own problems, etc. • Self-centeredness of a child is seldom questioned • In the Non-western world the building block of society is a group • People do not see themselves as individuals but as members of groups • People get their identity from the group • Since in many groups they have many “faces” • Maintaining dignity, respect, honor and harmonious relations is highest priority • Highest human qualities are those that prize group loyalties and congenial social relationships • Qualities of individual goals are seen as secondary.

21. b. Search for Identity • Outsiders see Americans as seeking a unique identity • Achieving this identity is vital—this alone is rewarded in our society • Closely tied to our notion of competition between individuals for goods, status or power and our concept of free enterprise. • We don’t see the destructive effect on the losers • We believe all can win, if we try hard enough • Search for personal identity is foreign to societies where group is primary identity. • Because you are born in a family you have an identity, that of the family • All important issues are decided by the group • Self-assertion is repressed when it is not seen as the best interest of the group.

22. c. Self-Reliance • The greatest fear Americans have is to be dependent on others and to be without money. • NAs would rather borrow from bank than friends • If a friend asks for a loan they do their best to make the loan, but they resent it. • We expect people to take care of themselves. • Much of our identity is gained in context with others—thus voluntary associations of people who have common goals or shared interests • Membership is gained not by rights of birth or power, but personal conformity to group.

23. c. Self-Reliance Conti.- • Self-reliance is not positive in most of world—it marks a loner or someone anti-social • In LA and Asia the ideal relationship is one of dependency: • Patron is totally responsible for the welfare of his clients. He helps them exist. • The client must be totally loyal, work whenever needed without more pay, vote for the patron, fight for him and are assured they cannot be fired. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement • This becomes difficult when the missionary gives employment (as a patron) but does not assume the position of a patron-client relationship.

24. d. Contractual groups • Where individualism and achievement are exalted and relationships are often weakly or selfishly bonded • Participation in groups is separate individuals united in common activity rather than a corporate body where personal rights and interests are subordinate. • It really is a commitment to our own self-interest. • When a better job appears we are ready to eave family and friends resulting in high mobility and superficial relationships • Basic form of social organization is the “club” – we organize to serve any purpose • In societies where strongest relationship is kinsmen, volunteer relationships seem strange. • Missionaries are seen as outsiders until they prove their loyalty

25. e. Need to be liked • NAs place high value on being liked, seen as a sign of success • Since it is a worry we see signs in every gesture or inflection • NAs become confused and unsure without expressions of friendship—to be liked means we are worthy of love • We need acceptance and are deeply hurt when rejected. We hat to be involved in unpopular activities

26. f. Private Ownership • Seen as the expression of NA’s individualism • Children have their own toys and rooms, seen as a value • Though they are taught to share, ownership is never questioned • In many societies the ownership is with the family, tribe or group • Decisions as to use or liquidation are determined by what is best for everyone

27. g. Humanitarianism • NAs respond quickly to calls for help • One of the finest heritages of our culture, but highly institutionalized and impersonal • In other parts of world humanitarianism means hospitality. • This is highly personal • It means taking the victims into your home • This is the way Israel was suppose to win their neighbors