What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.
When I was in fifth grade, I went to the states to get an education there. This was a choice that I made as a young kid attending elementary school. For some reason I wanted to study over seas and to me United States was a dream country. My parents could not come with me to the states because first of all, my father had buisiness in Korea and secondly, both of my parents cannot speak English. Altough I was not as fluent in English as I am now, I learned the language ever since I was five years old. I strongly believe that going to America and staying there for almost five years until last year when I first came to TCIS has influenced in shaping me into becoming the person I am today. According to my friends I am very Americanized, meaning I am influenced by American culture. I think based on the standard of American culture. If I ever get asked the question whether I am Korean or American I would have a hard time answering that question because, though I have both citizenships of United States and Korean, it would be unfair for me to say either I am just Korean or just American. It would even be more awkward for me to say that I am both. As a result, I cannot conclusively say which is my native culture at this moment. As for my religious world view, growing up in a Christian family had so much influence on it.
As a young kid growing up, I was almost forced by my parents to go to church and so without any other choice, I went to church as if it were a part of my weekly routine. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to not go to church on Sundays. Honestly, as a kid, there were times when I really did not want to wake up early to go to church and sleep in or hang out with my friends. Every once in a while, in a chosen season of the year, there is something called morning services that was even worse. To go to this I had to wake up at five o'clock in the morning to get prepared. To wake up that early in the morning, for a kid I was, was worse than death. This went on until I was in fifth grade. Now I can proudly say that I am a Christian who asked Jesus Christ to come into his heart. I go to church with a purpose now, which is to learn more about God and give him glory and praise. I am thankful that I was born in a Christian family, which assisted in laying Christian foundations in me and leading me to Christ.
The advantage of experiencing both cultures is that I saw different views on religion of each cultures, especially Christianity. I learned that Christians in Korea values and relies on traditions in their forms of worship, where as Christians in the States are more free in their worship. If a person was to go to a church in Korea, he or she would notice there that people are formally well dressed mostly in suits. But this person would notice something different in American churches. In American churches people are well dressed but not all in suits but something much more comfortable. There is also a difference in the ways people pray in both countries. Korean Christians tend to practice praying out loud, where as American Christians pray quiet
ly to themselves. In Korean churches there are services held on Wednesdays, every day in the early morning, and also Sunday evenings. This is discluding the main Sunday morning services. Lastly the ultimate thing I learned from each culture, which is also a common factor in both countries, is that Christians in both cultures love the Lord and want to spend their eternal life in heaven with God.
When I was in fifth grade, I went to the states to get an education there. This was a choice that I made as a young kid attending elementary school. For some reason I wanted to study over seas and to me United States was a dream country. My parents could not come with me to the states because first of all, my father had buisiness in Korea and secondly, both of my parents cannot speak English. Altough I was not as fluent in English as I am now, I learned the language ever since I was five years old. I strongly believe that going to America and staying there for almost five years until last year when I first came to TCIS has influenced in shaping me into becoming the person I am today. According to my friends I am very Americanized, meaning I am influenced by American culture. I think based on the standard of American culture. If I ever get asked the question whether I am Korean or American I would have a hard time answering that question because, though I have both citizenships of United States and Korean, it would be unfair for me to say either I am just Korean or just American. It would even be more awkward for me to say that I am both. As a result, I cannot conclusively say which is my native culture at this moment. As for my religious world view, growing up in a Christian family had so much influence on it.
As a young kid growing up, I was almost forced by my parents to go to church and so without any other choice, I went to church as if it were a part of my weekly routine. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to not go to church on Sundays. Honestly, as a kid, there were times when I really did not want to wake up early to go to church and sleep in or hang out with my friends. Every once in a while, in a chosen season of the year, there is something called morning services that was even worse. To go to this I had to wake up at five o'clock in the morning to get prepared. To wake up that early in the morning, for a kid I was, was worse than death. This went on until I was in fifth grade. Now I can proudly say that I am a Christian who asked Jesus Christ to come into his heart. I go to church with a purpose now, which is to learn more about God and give him glory and praise. I am thankful that I was born in a Christian family, which assisted in laying Christian foundations in me and leading me to Christ.
The advantage of experiencing both cultures is that I saw different views on religion of each cultures, especially Christianity. I learned that Christians in Korea values and relies on traditions in their forms of worship, where as Christians in the States are more free in their worship. If a person was to go to a church in Korea, he or she would notice there that people are formally well dressed mostly in suits. But this person would notice something different in American churches. In American churches people are well dressed but not all in suits but something much more comfortable. There is also a difference in the ways people pray in both countries. Korean Christians tend to practice praying out loud, where as American Christians pray quiet
ly to themselves. In Korean churches there are services held on Wednesdays, every day in the early morning, and also Sunday evenings. This is discluding the main Sunday morning services. Lastly the ultimate thing I learned from each culture, which is also a common factor in both countries, is that Christians in both cultures love the Lord and want to spend their eternal life in heaven with God.
4 comments:
Thanks for your post David. Continue to reflect deeply on these blog questions. Also, continue to share your thoughts with the rest of the class during discussions. Remember, I didn't spread the brains out amongst the different tables for nothing! I appreciate the comments and the effort you make during class to participate and be involved. Keep it up.
wow! its really interesting learning about your background. We have talked before but never really in depth it would be kewl to get to know you more and find out who you are! can't wait to read your next blog =]]
Chelsea =]]]
hey,,interesting haha I never knew you studied in the US..alone! It was a pretty brave decision for you to make when you were five...Thank you for sharing so much information :).
Just to tell you... You spelt English wrong in your title. I hope it was deliberate. I also didn't know that you went to korean school and went to the u.s to study. Good post.
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