AY Honors/Cultural Diversity Appreciation/Answer Key

1. Define culture and cultural diversity.

Culture

The arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation. The beliefs, values, behavior and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.

Cultural diversity

Cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole.

2. Define stereotype and identify how you may have stereotyped people in the past.

Stereotype

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. A person who is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

Stereotyping means that we make a judgment about a person based on what we think we know about that "type" of person (i.e., because of the person's race, sex, religion, etc). Sometimes this judgment is subconscious, and we are not even aware that we have made a judgment at all. An example would be a sudden feeling of fear upon seeing a person of a different race in a lonely place, or the automatic assumption that because a person is female, she must like to bake or sew, or she cannot repair an automobile.

3. Study the following Bible texts and answer the questions.

a. 1 Corinthians 9:20 How does this text explain the importance for a Christian to have a cultural diversity awareness?

1 Corinthians 9:20

To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. - NIV

In order to reach people of a different culture, it is important to understand that culture. For them to feel accepted by you, you should consider adopting some of their practices, as Paul did. This shows that you have an open mind and are genuinely interested in them. It will also serve to encourage them to build trust in you.

b. Galatians 3:27 What does this text say about all who are in the family of Christ?

Galatians 3:27

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. - NIV

This passage indicates that all believers are equal in the eyes of Christ. Being "clothed in Christ" means that the Christian's sins are covered. Instead of God seeing your sins when He looks at you, He will see His Son instead. This means that no matter how heinous your sins were, God will still accept you if you accept Christ. This also applies to Christians of other cultures. No matter what terrible things the others have done, they will be forgiven in the eyes of God. This makes you no better than them (and vice versa).

c. Ephesians 2:14 What should be the result of accepting Christ Jesus into our lives? How do you plan to apply this message to your everyday life?

Ephesians 2:14

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. - NIV

The barrier spoken of in this verse is the one that existed at that time between the Jews and the Gentiles. However, the lesson can be applied between peoples of any two cultures, and should not be viewed as having an application only between Jews and Gentiles. Christians should accept and love other Christians as Christ does.