Cultural Experience

I was able to attend three church services at the Athens First United Methodist Church and gain insight on what it was like to be a weekly congregation member. While focusing on the members of the congregation and their mannerisms, the pastor and the way that the congregation was being addressed, and the overall routine of the service I was able to write-up the way that I felt and the things that I noticed while being present. I feel as if the Catholic and Methodist church are different and attending the mass was not something that I was used too. I was experiencing a different religion and church service. I felt like there was a sense of community at each service and I really liked the way that I personally felt welcome each time I went. I am not saying that the catholic church does not have a sense of community, maybe it is because Athens is a small town and members get to know each other very well or what but I felt a strong community vibe. I was able to focus in on the members specifically and the way that they interacted with one another and the pastor. Friendly, is the word that I would use to describe the members. Each person had a smile on their faces on entering and exiting the church. Reverend Robert McDowell did a wonderful job interacting and engaging with the congregation throughout the service. He wanted his people to listen and reflect on the words he was saying not just blankly listen to. Going to the Methodist church was an eye opening experience to me, realizing that going to church and being in college is not a bad thing. It takes up one hour of my time one day a week. This project made me realize the difference between religions and unfamiliar places and how it can be educational and exciting to

The LGBT community has been silently suffering through generations. But in this generation, they are finally showing the world their voice. There have been many instances where young adults were denied their right to be who they are and now they are speaking out about the mistreatment. Even though the united states have begun to be more open about the LGBT community here is still more change it come. These changes can be explained through many sociological perspectives including: functionalist, conflict, symbolic interactionism and interactionism. Along with these perspective religion, norms and deviance all impact these individuals who are striving to be open about who they really are inside and out.

“Although sharply divided, public attitudes toward gays and lesbians are rapidly changing to reflect greater acceptance, with younger generations leading the way” (NORC University of Chicago, 2010, p. 1). This push for international acceptance of the LGBT people could not come any sooner. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals as well as transgender individuals from around the world have almost all experienced some sort of discrimination in their lives. This is why there is such a gap between heterosexual and LGBT people. There are hundreds, if not more, reasons for why some people will not accept LGBT individuals and couples, whether it is religion, family values or simply the fact that some people find LGBT people unnatural. This is why the common sufferings

This article by Brittany H. Bramlett analyzes the relationship with religion and contact with homosexuals in the United States. The article takes a look on how relationships with gays and lesbians may influence people of different faiths and religious traditions differently or not at all (The Cross-Pressures of Religion and Contact with Gays 1). The results from the article showed that people of

Arriving at a foreign country at the age of eleven years old was and exiting and yet intimidating experience. High buildings, wide roads, newer and nicer cars on the streets were some of the first things I noticed when I arrived to the city of Los Angeles CA. Living in a country where you were not born in could be difficult some times. Although Spanish is spoken at a grand scale in CA, it was difficult to communicate with and understand the teachers from my classes at the elementary level since all they spoke was English. Los Angeles is a city of great diversity, therefore it is believed to be the perfect place for any person arriving from another country to not feel like a foreign, such believe

The life experience during the kid’s time is one of most important time in the life. I have learned this by the hard way. When people looking for how should their kids to learn, I think people should pay more attention to what are their kids learning. Times are changing, the old thought of teaching might not fit in today anymore. I am always hoping one day today’s student could teach kids， because today’s student knows more about what kids like, what should kids know at this time of the day. SEU’s CCU class’s Cultural Engagement Assignment have given me a chance to see my childhood dream in life. I have decided to go one of the activity on Saturday. I have gone three times, first time I want is because I have to; the second time I want is because I like it and I want to do something I can to help the kids, also I want to know about the kids grow up in the family that not so good. Before I want the activity, my understanding of “Cultural Engagement,” is the connection between the people and the cultural, but after I want the activity, my understanding of “Cultural Engagement” has changed, it became what kind of culture for the kids have been growing up have affected to their dream and behavior. I will never forget a point that so many pastors have mentioned - Christians should never need to tell others that they are Christian but people should able to tell that we are Christian. As being Christian, we need to show the love to others and share the God’s words and

This is my first interviewing anyone regarding their culture solely, and I interviewed my friend Jennifer on Skype. I have known Jennifer for a long time, and Jennifer is 27 years old. Jennifer is of African American descent. Jennifer’s parents reside in from Houston Texas, and they have lived there all their lives. Jennifer had Cajun roots, and her grandmother is white and her grandfather is Black. Her grandparents had an interracial marriage at a time when it was not acceptable. Jennifer’s grandfather and grandmother were born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and they experienced discrimination and unacceptance form others. Jennifer’s great-grandparents came to term with their relationship, and they were supportive, but not at first. Jennifer expressed being extremely proud of her Cajun, Anglo-Saxon, and African American ancestry. Jennifer comes from an upper middle class background, and it is a firm believer in working hard to achieve your goals.

The members of the LGBT community have struggled a very long time through many obstacles and a lot of hatred in attempt to be accepted by the people of their community. Recently, America passed a law that made gay marriage legal, making progress on the community’s fight to abolish homophobia. Unfortunately, what many people don’t know, homosexuality still very, very illegal in 76 countries, punishments being imprisonment or worse. All around the world, 47.9% of LGBT males and 72.9% of LGBT females think about committing suicide, 29% of LGBT males and 52.4% of LGBT females attempt suicide, and 1 out of every 25 LGBT males and 2 out of every 25 of LGBT females who attempt at suicide succeed at it. Even though both Equiano’s and Wilson’s battles are over, this battle seems like it is just

My cultural immersion focus is on the religious war in Nigeria. One of the interesting things I found in my research was that, in Nigeria the Christian faith and the Muslim faith represents the greatest percentage of religions. I also learned that the Christians and Muslims pray every day several times a day. With that being said, I wondered if they believed in a higher entity prayed every day, who they are praying to? And what is their belief system based on? (question 1) Since their Christian faith seems to be divided into Catholic, Protestant or some other, I decided to attend a typical Catholic Church service and a Friday mid-day Muslim prayer service. Maybe I should not have used the

In the past decades, the struggle for gay rights in the Unites States has taken many forms. Previously, homosexuality was viewed as immoral. Many people also viewed it as pathologic because the American Psychiatric Association classified it as a psychiatric disorder. As a result, many people remained in ‘the closet’ because they were afraid of losing their jobs or being discriminated against in the society. According to David Allyn, though most gays could pass in the heterosexual world, they tended to live in fear and lies because they could not look towards their families for support. At the same time, openly gay establishments were often shut down to keep openly gay people under close scrutiny (Allyn 146). But since the 1960s, people

The girls I see this evening are young teens who are wearing too much makeup trying to be seen by the young boys who are wearing expensive sneakers and saggy pants. A few of the young girls I see are young mothers pushing baby strollers and conversing

For my second culture immersion project I went to eat at a Mexican restaurant. I went with my group members Ryan, Brian and Brian's girlfriend. I went this pass Tuesday after we had our group meeting. I don’t recall the name of the restaurant but I know it was downtown Appleton near by the Walgreens. . This was good choice for the project because I never have eaten at an actually Mexican restaurant before.

Apart from feeling rejected from their families, friends, and other people around them, there on some positive occurrence such as being accepted from their families and friends. In addition to, the LGBT population search for their identity and learn to accept themselves and those around them as well. However, apart from receiving acceptance, others face discrimination. The movie For the Bible Tells me So, presents conservative Christians who deny the LGBT population human rights. When reflecting on the issue of discrimination, it is a matter of disagreement on people’s freedom to choose their own lifestyles. It is disappointing to see people’s lack of education when it comes to the subject of same-sex marriage and anything else that has to do with the LGBT

Sexuality has always been one of religion’s most important sites of influence. Religion informs social norms regarding what constitutes acceptable patterns of sexual intimacy and outlines the consequences of violating socially sanctioned or religiously sanctioned sexual customs (Halkitis, 252). Research suggests that conflict over spirituality and sexual orientation is not merely myth; many LGB individuals do report internal conflict between their religious faith and sexual orientation, conflicts that are associated with increased shame, depression, suicidal ideation, and difficulty accepting an LGB identity (Lease, 379). My research will be examining the influence of religion on LGBT youth’s mental health because it is detrimental to understand the mind and struggle of individuals who identify as LGBT, especially in today’s society where there is a large spotlight that shines upon them. I want to understand how religion might negatively affect the mental health of LGBT youth, on whether or not there is an actual connection between religion and sexual identity and how to help struggling individuals who identify as anything but heterosexual. Now that more LGBT individuals are coming out, it is crucial to help society understand how these individuals think and how to better help them if they have shown

The realization of the homosexuality in the modern western world as a cultural, sexual and a social category has been a result of complex power relations that surround sexuality and gender. The acceptance of homosexuality in the society has met its fair share of resistance and skepticism. The view that homosexuality can be in the same league as heterosexual has led it to be viewed as a normal behavioral and moral standard (Gallagher & Baker, 2006). Inasmuch as the skeptics may not want to accept the existence of homosexuality studies show that the habit is rampant today with many gay people coming out in the open. Of interest is the political acceptance of homosexuality with passing gay rights so that it can be recognized by law. This move has given homosexuals the ability to engage in legal entities like marriage (Gallagher & Baker, 2006).