9th entry

Can traditions be broken completely? Support/provide answers.

Traditions and cultures are such complex ideas that there are no true adequate words to describe them.They are ideas that’s very tightly bonded that cannot be broken completely. Yes, culture does change over the time through many influences, such as technology, environment, people and etc., but no culture in the history of the world has ever disappeared completely. The stone age tribes and cultures that we thought was extinct still existed on this earth with many tribes that we were ignorant of, and who knows what other culture still exists on this earth without everyone knowing. Also, cultures that died out with the population didn't necessarily disappear. Maybe there might not be anyone who follows those customs and traditions but still there are records that are left behind in this Earth which can be recognized and acknowledged by the rest of the world.



Many times people can think that traditions can be broken once another country or foreigner takes over. This is not always right. For example, when Korea was taken over by the Japanese and was forced upon the Japanese rituals and cultures Koreans became more conservatives and patriotic. There were more people who became nationalistic which motivated them to never give up on independence. The culture was more reinforced although it might have been hidden or underground. Also, in the UK the pilgrims went to the New World, America, in order to find a way to fix their corrupted church. They were determined to make a new church that was solely based on God and his teachings.


People’s determination and motivation are strong and extremely hard to break once it comes down to their culture and identity. They will try their best no matter what happens to them. This is how God made us so that when our culture is based on God after the acceptance of his words that we don’t stop but are determined to spread the word of God. Based on the way God has made us it is evident that our cultures and traditions are not some silly thing that can be broken down once there are some troubles, but rather is something that strengthens after it has overcome those problems that seemed to have no solutions.

8th entry

What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

Every single part of the Sawi culture was intriguing. All the different aspects were so atypical than to what we are exposed in our everyday life. The language with the tenses that was numerous to the point where only Don Richardson was the only foreigner to ever learn the language. The one part of all the things in this Sawi culture that most intrigued me was that treachery was ideal. Treachery to other tribes, which lead to cannibalism, was distinctive to the other twenty first century cultures.


Cannibalism is not something that we see in Korea, America, or any other countries in which people conclude as “civilized.” Cannibalism is considered as a sin in my culture, Christianity and Korean. I think it was interesting to visualize something that was not even supposed to be thought about in my culture. It’s weird how human beings eating other human beings were not for just survival instincts but rather to gain popularity and strength in one society. This made me think in our society what people need to gain for popularity and high social status. Money was the answer to this question. The green paper is what rules the minds of people in this what people called “civilized.” Then I thought to myself, is cannibalism a more corrupt sin than this green paper in which the world today rotates around? I thought no. Money can bring as much sin as cannibalism does. Cannibalism brings death or murder, but money can bring more variety of sins; drugs, alcohol, murder, adultery, treachery, and suicides. Cannibalism may be one of the sins but in God’s eyes they’re still the same sin as someone stealing a pencil. So who are we to make the conclusion that the Sawi culture is bad and corrupt? Yes, their culture may be intriguing but definitely not something that should anger or upset someone. We need to look among our self and see through the perspective that which we look at the Sawi’s at.

By the end, cannibalism was the part of the culture that intrigued me the most because it enabled me to look back at our cultures and see flaws in it. We say cannibalism is disgusting and horrific when the green paper that we let control us is as much destructive as cannibalism.

7th entry

What does God expect us to do for other cultures and faiths?

God, Faith, and culture. These three words or concepts define each other. To believe in God and his presence we need faith and a culture that reflects upon the teachings of God. To be faithful means to love God and trust him without any doubts in their own cultural ways. Having a unique and a strong culture means to have a culture that either is based upon God and faith or something that reflects upon it. All three of these words build upon each other and enhance each words connotation that underlies them. Back to the question, God expects us to accept other cultures and faiths, and identify that there are other religion that coexists in this world with the word of God.


I believe the main thing that God expects us to do is to help bring out the best of each culture and faith by introducing to them the truth. The truth and understanding about the origin of the world, people, and every little thing that exists upon this magnificent Earth. God also want to save each culture by saving each and every one of those people. To make this wish or goal to happen we need to as Christians go out into the world and preach the salvation Jesus has brought 2000 years ago. It is our need to enlighten those with the meaning that lies upon the symbol of the cross, and blood of Jesus. It is our path that needs to bring the concept of eternity with the Creator in the life after death. Finally it is our duty to teach to the other cultures the true depth of everlasting love from God which they were not exposed to in the shallow world they are living in.

6th entry

6. What does Jesus want us to do for the Sawi?

Different skin color, language, food, and culture... The exterior of a person or a group of people doesn't matter to Jesus and God. In Jesus' eyes we are all the same, we are the same people he created. He created each and everyone of us with love and thought. We are said to be created in the image of God. Therefore, Jesus ultimately wants each and everyone of his child to be saved by accepting him as the ultimate salvation and father of the universe.

Jesus wants us, Christians, to go into Sawi and preach the word of God. He wants us to have faith in him that his words have enough power and persuasion to change the faith of a culture that rotates around treachery and cannibalism. I believe that Jesus doesn't want us to destroy the culture when we are in the Sawi but rather help them live a life based on God. I vision that Jesus wants us to use this unique and different culture as a way to benefit us when preaching the word of God to the Sawi. He doesn't want us to preach in a condesending matter but rather in a more joyful and enthusiastic matter in which we also learn through the experiences of teaching the word of God to others.

We are equal to the Sawi. They are not inferior to us just because they have a different culture. I should be aware of this more than anyone because of the fact that I am a Korean American, someone who has a different culture as well. Therefore, I think Jesus wants me to use the fact that I am different, culture wise, to help the Sawi be accepted into this world not as an uncivilized culture, but as one of God's children.

5th entry

What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

Other cultures? Other people? Opposite sex? Different age? Culture is undeniable; Whether we go to school, home, or even if we're just hanging out with our friends... Culture can be originated by many different things, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, and environment. Therefore, overall we can conclude that each and everyone that we meet or that we are confronted with at least have some different or opposing culture or ideas.

Prejudice is something that we should set aside in our minds when in contact with different people. Our human nature makes it impossible to not judge someone who's different but we should at least try. We should love everyone even our enemies. We should respect and have courtesy towards others. We should not talk with them in a condescending matter, but rather in a way that either treats them as a superior or equal. Finally, we should always have in mind that they're God's child.

But the main question we should ask our self when we are confronted with others is can we manage to keep our negative thoughts to our self. We know that it's impossible to look and think about everyone with the everlasting love God views them. Somehow if we can make come to the conclusion that we are not able to we should have enough self control and maturity to walk away from the situation so that nobody gets scarred.

To be confronted is to be face to face with something. To be confronted with different cultures means living life because nowhere we go in the world we are always face to face to some type of culture. So to be matured enough to walk away or accept a culture of other people is a life lesson.

4th Entry

What do mission organisations do for these people?

What is mission? Is there a difference between Protestant and Catholic mission when their belief is solely based on the same book, the Bible? Is this the limit of people's mind or are we all just analyzing the same book in many different perspectives? Who can mission and who can't? The past 16 years of my life I was exposed to many Christians and non-Christians who have many different beliefs. However, I was never aware of a culture as the Sawi whos culture is just completely different from the morals both the Christians and pagans that I have contact with. I have been taught by both my parents and the church that when there comes a time where Faith is strong enough that I should go out to the world and preach the word of God. They said that this was a process of becoming a missionary. Everytime I was exposed to this same idea of mission I questioned myself, what is mission? Is it going to new and different cultures in the world and preaching the word of God or being in the same environment as I am and doing the much as I can with the circumstances I am living in? I never really got the concept of mission although people around me had a clear definition. After reading "Peace Child" and "Eternity in their Hearts" by Don Richardson I think I got some parts of the very contreversial concept of missioning; I have come to the understanding that becoming a missionary is not just solely on saving others but saving yourself by reevaluating your Faith whilst teaching others.

Back to the question What do Mission Organisations do for other people? I'm not sure. In the article "Do missionaries destroy cultures" I was very confused. I mean I was brought in a culture which origin was not the same as those Western Christianity. I was taught morals and beliefs not only of Christianity but also of Confusionism. Through these experience I came to the knowledge that all those different cultures are supporting or are in some part of the whole concept of Christianity. Since I was younger I would always ask my mother how my ancestors got a chance or opportunity to be saved by God when there were no missionaries? My mother would always answer me in the same way, God has made the world in a way that even by looking at the nature and the his creations we are able to know that there is a God because of how perfectly and magnificantly it is made. After living 16 years I think I finally understand what she meant. Each distinct and unique culture in the world whether their title is different from God's beliefs and teachings there are some corresponding morals and beliefs with Christianity. For example while I was brought up in my Korean culture I was always told to obey and respect my parents. This is based on a wholey different perspective of the world, Confusioncism, yet it still corresponds with one of the ten commandments. Therefore, ultimately I think that those different cultures just enhance the ability to understand the complex word of God.

I thought it was wrong when missionaires went into people's ordinary lives and "destroyed their cultures." I think missionaries could have been smarter as to understanding their main beliefs and using those customs for their benefit in converting the people's religion to Christianity. Ultimately what I want to believe is that those missionaries are not disminishing a culture but rather approaching missioning in a way that provides the new cultures different ways in understanding the word of God than we do.

3rd Entry

How does Faith relate to the world in which we live?

I am 16 years old and been a Christian all my life, or at least I've been told that I was a Christian by my parents. But I don't think I have ever asked myself what Faith really means. Preachers, parents, and my friends all talk about Faith but I don't think we've ever discussed what the word really meant. Does it mean the ability to trust in God without seeing the physical or does it mean Christians seeing the world and the metaphysical realm through God's eyes? Reading the book about the Sawi culture I came to the realization that Faith is not trust but more support and origin of strength to Christians. Through Don Richardson I understood that it was his Faith in God which enabled him to go to a culture where treachery and cannibalism was ideal. Back to the question I think Faith has great strength. Today the world is filled with sinners and those who believe that sin is not necessarily bad; sex, homosexual, drugs, murder, and more. Without Faith I don't think that Christians can live through this world where materialistically things have overpowered the things of the metaphysical realm. Many people may think that Faith doesn't relate to the world, but I think Faith is the only thing right reason why God isn't just letting the world die out. Finally I think Faith is the ultimate answer; Many people walk around this world without a purpose and I think that the Faith is the thing they're searching for. Through the book "Peace Child" I think I have become one step closer in learning the true meaning of Faith.

2nd Entry

What should society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?

Up until now I don't think I've ever really thought about or even considered that there were people out there in the world who were "uncivilized" to the point where they thought cannibalism and treachery is the ideal. I believe that many times in my life I was selfish and egotistic that I was incapable of understanding the reality of the world. However after reading this story I came to my senses in understanding that there are many cultures that need not only the world's help but the Christian help as well. First of all I believe that the UN should take action and help these cultures understand the rest of the world that they have no contact with. Secondly when the UN goes in and help I believe that missionaries should go in there and help them change their belief systems or at least give them a chance in which they can go to Heaven. Jesus to the Christians are saviors who gave us a second chance in not going to hell and breaking away from sin; I believe that the same type of opportunity should be given to everyone in this world. Although these cultures might not accept the belief, I believe that they should at least be aware of or heard. By the end of the day I think that we, as Christians, should feel the satisfaction and content when we go out to those people who are ignorant and preach the word of God.

1st Entry

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors??

The phrase native culture is something that is complex to me unlike the others around me. This idea is difficult to me because I was raised in two different and contradicting cultures; the Americas and Korea. When I was raised in two different cultures I had a hard time being comfortable every time my environment changed. Therefore, I would consider my native culture to be Korean American, where both the Korean and American culture would be mixed. First of all Korean culture main beliefs are upon Confucianism, where respecting elders and others is the core belief. On the other hand the American culture is all about freedom. These two main beliefs would impact my religious views on not only Christianity but also all the different religion.

The respect idea from my Korean culture ables me to respect all the different types of religion out there in the world. From my Korean culture I was taught not to show disrespect against something I would not be familiar about directly. Therefore, although I might not believe in someone else's beliefs I would never be able to say that their belief is something that is false because of culture I was raised and taught. Also from my American beliefs even if I would not believe the other cultures I would let them have their own freedom of religion. This freedom would support my respect toward others. So these two different beliefs in culture would correspond with each other to help me understand my viewpoints on religion.