Pre-Field Reflection Essay: Glorifying God Through Cultural Unity

Having the privilege to serve in the military has allowed this writer the opportunity to be exposed to the pluralistic society in a way which has exposed him to the beauty of the diversity enjoyed in American culture. One aspect of said diversity is the interaction which has taken place amongst the Christian and various world religions who also wear the same uniform in defense of America. It was the pleasure of the writer to attend a local synagogue in which his Jewish brothers and sisters welcomed him with open arms. The local congregation of Jewish believers went out of their way in order to ensure their newest visitor understood the flow of service and the significance of the ritual which took place on the first Shabbat or Sabbath of the month. The following essay will serve to detail the worship experience as well as how it and other beliefs of Judaism compare/contrast with the Christian faith.

Is it possible to be a Muslim without believing the validity of the prophecies of Mohammed? Is it possible to be a Christian without believing in the resurrection of Jesus? My definition of religion transformed greatly during my studies the past few months. Even as a religion major at St. Olaf College I thought of religion very narrowly, as a construct of metaphysical beliefs. But I've come to realize that religion runs far deeper than my Lutheran mind previously conceived.

1. Racial reconciliation is when one person or a group of a race apologizes and reconciles with someone of another race that was brought to harm by the faults of the first group. The PowerPoint illustrates the different reconciliations accepted by different races. The first race the PowerPoint covers is African American’s. This sense of oneness is what is essentially violated with when African America people experience Racism. The belief here is that oneness supersedes, biology, ethnicity, and even culture. The problem that African American people experience here is that they feel like white people often minimize the race issue. We learned earlier about how white people can 't

There was a time when America was segregated; Caucasians and African Americans were forced to attend different restrooms, restaurants, and water fountains. However, the era of segregation has been terminated; now America embraces and appreciates the various cultures and ethnicities that create this melting pot several people call home. Likewise, it is this melting pot, or mosaic, of races that multitudes of individuals have identified themselves with. Thus, race and ethnicity does matter for it portrays vital and crucial roles in the contemporary American society. Furthermore, ethnicity and race brings communities together in unity, determines which traditions and ideals individuals may choose to value, and imposes an impediment for it categorizes humans unjustly.

My pre-adolescent years were spent in a community thick with diversity. My friendships were as diverse as the environment in which I lived. It never struck me that racial and ethnic ideals separated people in society. However, upon moving to a predominately white upper-class community I began to question such racial and ethnic ideas. From my adolescent years through today I began noticing that certain people are viewed differently for reasons relating to race and ethnicity. As a result, the most recent community I grew up in has kept me sheltered from aspects of society. As a product of a community where majorities existed, I found myself unexposed to the full understanding of race and ethnicity. Prior to the class I had never fully dealt with issues of race or ethnicity, as a result I wondered why they would be of any importance in my life.

However, racial segregation in churches, discrimination and inequality are clear proof that there is still a direct relation between race and Christianity and that we still have a long way to go. Shelton, Jason E., and Michael O. Emerson in the book, Black and Whites in Christian America: How Racial Segregation Shapes Religious Convictions interviewed several clergy people from different races in order to check their religious perceptions. According to Shelton and Emerson, “our nation’s history is not just a thing of the past; it still lives with us today [...] we cannot expect to live in a better world if we do not become actively involved in efforts to eliminate racism, poverty and injustice” (207). This source challenges the idea that racial issues are over by explaining that there are communities where racism, poverty and injustice are a daily struggle. The writers also mention that getting rid of this problems will make us have a better world but only if we all become

According to the results of a survey conducted, by 2050 the population of the United States will predominantly (more than fifty percent) consist of the non-whites. With this fact in mind, it would be highly advisable to meet the anticipated changes. in order to ensure a fully competent and ethnic-minded workforce. Different ethnic backgrounds come with their particular cultural specifications, which call for a person with an in-depth knowledge of these specifications in order to accord satisfactory attendance to the patients and clients (Mason, 2012). Furthermore, many patients and customers feel more at ease with someone they can relate to, be it ethnically, in terms of gender, background or even religion. It remains an unquestionable fact

Due to the "highly subjective nature of most scientific theorizing... [we should] let the Bible speak for itself and modify our scientific view of origins accordingly." (as cited in Downey, D., & Porter, S., 2009).

Religion has become a cornerstone of the human experience incorporating itself into almost every aspect of modern life. It has brought understanding and security to billions in a world where both are usually sparse. But, religious conflict has been the source of countless wars, genocides, and overall repression. With thousands of different variations of religions around the world, these times of religious conflict caused each to withstand periods of difficulties allowing them to become what they are today. For example, the Catholic Church faced some of its most prominent changes in early modern Europe with the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment. These periods of struggle sparked doubt towards the Church and led to one of the most perplexing times in the modern era: the witch craze. Upon the initial presentation of witchcraft, religious leaders began turning to their faith to distinguish between what was right and wrong in the eyes of God. It was quickly presumed to be from the hands of the devil, and that something had to be done with those afflicted by his charms. Spanning from the early fifteenth century to the late eighteenth century, tens of thousands of people across Europe and North America were prosecuted for witchcraft, many of whom were killed. Religious leaders amongst Catholicism and some of its religious denominations such as Protestantism and Puritanism feared the unknown that came with witchcraft and used their religious ideology to justify the

As I said in this processing, we as individuals along with the church are coming full circle to the image and the bride of Christ. In order to complete the process and walk in victory we’re going to have to get things right in the church. Let me say it again, if we are to walk in the manifested power of the Glory of God we have to be transparent, accountable and get things right or God is going to strip us naked in front of everybody. We must stop perpetrating, be real and keep it real on this journey. We must take authority over every unclean spirit and everything that’s not like God.

Over the years, many people have seen their lives transformed spiritually through their practices and adherence to the application of scriptures, prayer and spiritual traditions. Therefore, churches express their spirituality through different traditions and practices based on the emphasis placed on that particular tradition. Fundamentally, in identifying these traditions Richard Foster placed them in six categories, namely, contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical, and incarnation. Although, these traditions are central to our Christian faith each church has demonstrated a tendency to prefer the practice of one over the other (Spiritual Formation, in Class notes, 2013).

An “apostle” in Greek means “a sent one.” Strong defines it as “a delegate, a messenger, one sent forth with orders.” Sent by whom? And what orders? In the New Testament context, the One who sends is the LORD Jesus Christ, and the order of the LORD is to “[equip] the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD” (Eph 4:12-13). This work of the LORD had been planned and appointed before the foundation of the world. GOD who sees the end from the beginning has already appointed all things before He began time or even created it.

Based on the foundational theological themes discussed during the first half of the course, it may be inferred that the essence of Christianity broadly lies within deciphering God’s will, and further transferring his will into action particularly by adapting simplicity in our lifestyle and serving those in need to bring about justice and to help humanity prevail. We can note the acknowledgement of the importance of service in various different Tradition’s that fall under the Christian Tradition such as the Orthodox Tradition, the Catholic Tradition, the Pentecostal Tradition, the Protestant Tradition as well as the Jesuit Tradition. Simplicity is also an adhered to trait in Christianity that is highly encouraged in the form of being self-effacing in nature and austere in living. However, although simplicity and service play an important role in the essence of Christianity there has been tension about it’s role which can be rebutted. As stated by Dr Eileen Burke-Sullivan in her lecture on Institutional Structures and Religious Identities during an annual seminar I attended, service questions, “if the apostolic work really is christ-activity or just humanistic do-gooding.” Further the idea of the degree of simplicity tends to clash with the desire for more. The answer to these begin with deciphering the will of God.

On July 12, 2007, for the first time in American history the Senate session that day was opened by a prayer; unlike any other prayer, it was given by a Hindu priest. At first sight, it would seem as though the ideals designed by the framers of the Constitution were alive and well; the pluralization of the United States of America, the land of freedom of religion, and the right to worship without persecution. However, the Christian right wing religious group Operation Save America entered the Senate floor and began to heckle Rajan Zed, the Hindu priest, perpetuating that Hinduism is an “abomination”, as Hindus do not worship “The lord Jesus Christ”. This leads us to ask the question: Is America a land of religious pluralism, or is it a

“If we don’t fully understand our individual and collective roles in maintaining a system of white superiority, our relationships with people of color remains superficial, our ability to work in diverse workplaces is greatly diminished, and we fail to create a just world in which everyone has an equitable opportunity to contribute and thrive” (Kendall, 2013, p. 1). This paper discusses who I am as a cultural person and how I have come to be this way. The first section of this paper discusses my cultural background and my cultural identity. I address the factors that make up my cultural identity and the challenges that I have faced because of my cultural identity. The next section discusses my White racial identity development and the events in my life that have led me to become the person I am today in relation to my racial identity. The final section of this paper outlines the implications my own racial and cultural identity will have on my career as a clinical mental health counselor.