#1

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

Native culture is a word that I would associate with one culture: Christianity. I would consider myself a TCK(Third Culture Kid), a MK(Missionary Kid) and a PK(Pastor's Kid), but I am not the typical PK, MK, or TCK. I was raised with spiritual mentors and being involved with my parents ministry ever since I can remember. My "family" consisted of all the "Aunts" and "Uncles" I had in the mission organization that employed my parents. Everyone I knew in the states were either family or people from church. I had been in Christian schools since fourth grade and grew up with conservative Christian values. "Christianity" was my native culture, and even more specifically, I was "Southern Baptist".

Southern Baptists are often viewed as being "too conservative", "traditional" or even "legalistic". These words were the best way to describe some of the reactions received upon coming to TCIS where I entered a non-denominational Christian school with a large variety of Christian beliefs. My mind was "broadened" by basically having to accept the different views of teachers, staff and students, but at the same time I was losing my faith and identity. My world view was being opened at the expense of my personal ideals and philosophies.

My former "world view" would best be described as nearly total agreement in all Southern Baptist philosophies and ideals as well as a firm belief in God and the Bible. I was close-minded by the world's standards, but I knew who I was. I did not consider other religions at all and was very passionate and unwavering in my faith. Some would consider this "bad" that I was growing up so "ignorant" and "mono-cultured", but honestly I love that I had a life filled with faith.

As I lost my world view I began to question my faith and the Bible-I began to doubt. People on all sides were telling me that my views was wrong. That I shouldn't align myself with an denomination, that my values were too conservative, that I couldn't really have "fun" in life if I didn't compromise-so I did and regretted it. I did not stay true to my conservative nature and my ideals and thus, I felt my relationship with God suffering. But thankfully, He did not give up on me and slowly, but surely He brought me back to Him and my life took on a new chapter and a new world view.

I became a student in the art of understanding but not accepting. God helped me decipher between what I should and should not accept, he brought people into my life that supported me throughout my years at TCIS-both Christian and non-Christian. I learned to listen more to others ideas regarding faith and not immediately disregard them. These lessons taught me tolerance which is very important for a balanced world view. I began to develop a new world view still characterised and dictated by my beliefs as it had been previously, but with more understanding of another's view. This is not, and was not, smooth and consisting of just loveliness. I still find myself struggling with doubt and living up to the ideals of a Christian life more than I had in the past, but I have found myself to be much more effective in communicating my beliefs to people and receiving better responses. I still believe that Christianity is the only way and the right way and if others get offended by that idea, then so be it. I go against many of the ideas of the world and thus describe myself as a anti-conformist and a "revolutionary anti-revolutionary"-meaning that I am against the current culture of the world and also that I reject the revolutionary views of secular society. My world-view does have "narrow mindedness" present, but I am not going to change it because that "narrow mindedness" comes from my Christian beliefs and I have seen what compromising those beliefs entail. One has to give God all or nothing-there is no middle ground. He says so in Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. I am reminded of a song by Krystal Meyers titled "Anticonformity":

I identify with the song a lot because I agree with what Krystal has to say, especially "I'm anticonformity, I don't try too hard to be". I have made my choice in worldview and I know from where it comes. My family life, the strong presence of Christians in throughout my life, the Southern Baptist ideals and culture all contributed to my world view on religion. I have made up my mind, so to speak, when it comes to my beliefs regarding religion. I am a Christian which greatly affects how I view other religions. I do write them off because I am confident that God is the one and only God. In other words, I AM anticonformity.