DEEPENING FAITH THROUGH

DEEPENING FAITH THROUGH

COMPASSION, SERVICE, AND JUSTICE

FOR DIVERSITY

“Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as God chose. If all were a single member where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor…that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

This section explores the large assumptions of our dominant cultures. Because they are dominant, they often assume that they are the right, normal, and important world views. Sub-cultures are not only less valued but actually invisible. Therefore people who live in social sub-cultures are forced to be “bi-lingual”, surviving in the context of the dominant culture as well as living differently within the subculture.

For instance, we live in a male dominant culture, therefore women know more about men’s culture than men do about women’s culture. We live in a heterosexual dominant culture, therefore homosexual and bisexual people know more about heterosexual culture than heterosexuals know about gay/lesbian and bisexual culture. We live in a Euro-American dominant culture, therefore African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans know more about White/Anglo culture than Euro-Americans know about other American’s cultures. We live in a able bodied dominant culture, therefore disabled persons know more about able bodied culture than (temporarily) able bodied persons know about the culture of disability. The same is true of religion, socio-economic class, family configurations, etc.

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press