Cultures move at different speeds. At this writing there is a world disruption brought on largely not only in the prevailing differences between and within cultures, but accented. The accent is most easily seen in the terrorism that stalls some life and progress as segments of society enter into conflict with another – aided by race, wealth, religion and other influences. Currently the extremists in the Islamist culture and society have introduced what may be called holy wars to gain objectives against a collection of different cultures, especially against Christian because it is perceived as the largest of the enemy groups, most of whom are interpreted as in some way related to the great Satan. The story is more complex than one cause and effect context can explain. We might begin our study with economics, or nationalities, or races, or some other, like religion, education, and the human competitive spirit. There are etcetera influences, as there almost always are to be considered in either the negatives or affirmatives in world cultures (and nearly all themes). What is the upside and downside in any issue of life? Christianity relies on freedom and persuasion to advance its meaning to all persons. Other religions may be docile. They tend to die out or become eclectic in a philosophy left to those who pass by. The tendency of some may be defensive to the degree that they are willing to kill or die to advance their basic patterns of culture. (Religion is considered in cultural analysis. The religion may be humanism. Not all religions have a personal god – except self.)
A study of ancient cultures in the East shows that at a point, elevated at the time era, the decision was made to defend what had been gained – so nations closed themselves to the outside world. That held for many centuries until recent decades and exploded as a point of world concern when America forced change – when the navy sailed into a Japanese harbor as directed by Theodore Roosevelt. The long range response to that may have been in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 – forty years later. In the west the Greek culture changed things, partly through great ideas, but also through the military. Even the idea men served as youths in the army/navy. The Greek ideals were made more practical in the Roman, but also in the armed forces. The fall of Rome, brought on the medieval period where there was little changed or shifting for centuries – for the citizenry. The changes were so incremental that they did not seem threatening to the traditions. Then there was born, around 1250 AD, the Renaissance, the rediscovery of what had been lost. The changes were given impetus by the Reformation (Christianity’s contribution to the general culture of Renaissance), and so the story continues sometimes shifted by this and that, by warfare, education, frontiers, governments, and other influences to bring us to the present day, likely influenced in the west in the rise of industrialization that included ease of travel and communications. Such changes, as is always the case, contribute both affirmative and negative influences to the cultures. The current accents on freedom, multiculturalism, rights, education, and economic balance in the competitions of the world are driving a new culture that was unknown and little anticipated in my childhood. The main objectives are to find prosperity and peace. They seem elusive, but the effort continues.
God means for Christians to get on in personal life, victorious in the individual context he or she has made in the light of Christianity. Nations are to be accepted for whatever they are. That does not mean approval. One of the great open secrets for human beings is to live and let live – in peace that is generated from love. (A favorite verse of mine – Revelation 22:11) This does not mean there is no effort to bring practices in line with righteousness and effectiveness in the context of the culture or nation, but the ability to grant to others the freedom of individual thought and conduct that does not diminish those others to the individual. This is also the base for equality. The individual is often tested in faith relating to peace when the culture does not provide for justice, equality, freedom and respect for life. Scripture is specific when it provides equality for the sojourner, and acceptance for the existing government. This last is cast well in Romans 13:1-8. Keeping the law does not mean approval of it or the culture, and if breaking it I ought to take without complaint the penalty for doing so. Scripture teaches how all persons ought to be treated. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020