Reflections on Culture

I have been reflecting a lot on culture these days.  There are so many dimensions of culture, it's hard to unravel them. What is inherent in the culture here which is purely African?  I have often wondered the same about the Navajo: what is a visible element of the culture that is basic, original, to this culture? Certainly the central importance of the family in both cultures. And what is inherent in the culture as a result of poverty, the sort of features that would not be there if poverty did not exist? Perhaps the expectation that you will receive payment for every little thing you do. (It's hard to conduct an informal market study in the village for our bakery because we would have to pay people to do it.) Volunteerism is not a common concept here. For a poor person here it takes your whole day, every bit of time, to conduct the daily affairs of your life.

What does amaze me is the way the Christian faith has planted in both Ruth and me a culture we share. Today at breakfast she told stories of the generosity and hospitality in her home growing up. Her father was a lay pastor at a Baptist mission in Congo. He and Ruth's mother were generous in their offering of food, water, and a place to sleep for people who came to the mission hospital and/or their family members. And they raised several children in addition to their own. In my own home, my parents were equally as hospitable and generous, though not as much was demanded of them. I can remember my father receiving transients who would plead for assistance. This is a layer of culture that transcends the other layers for the two of us. And of course, we share a culture as well-educated people. That's another layer.

I have also reflected on the "right" and "wrong" of culture. Generally, I believe that matters of culture are neither right or wrong. Just different. But sometimes you see things in a culture -- any culture -- that are just plain wrong wherever you see them. For example, so many cultures have an ethos of the possession and exploitation of women. That's wrong wherever you see it. That's clear. There are other features of culture that are much harder to discern the "rightness" or "wrongness" of. It's a slippery slope. One can slide right into a judgment that is not appropriate.

Lots to reflect upon here!