week 12…
764 words by sshelby
Blog about how oyur project is coming along?
My project is coming along good I suppose. I have a group of “regulars” that I meet with at the school. We have been discussing the topic and I have been adressing their quetions and/or comments. In the week nine blog I wrote about not being sure if I was actually getting through to my group and I also wrote that I didn’t want to come across like a boring lecture. So I have found away to improve my impact on my group. Since we have been disscusing these problems: lack of education among American youth, and the spread of sexually transmitted dieases, I decided to take my work with the group beyond the meetings at the school. I have been helping them with their school work and giving them advice on my personal time. I am really becoming a mentor to this group and now the girls even come to my house every other day to talk about issues that they have a hard time talking about with their parents. They refer to me as their “big sister” and it really makes me feel good because I feel like I am being effective in getting my point across and it shows me that we [the group and I ] have developed a sincere relationship. Some of the girls are telling their friends about my our little group and some of their friends come and sit in from time to time. Presently, my group and I are trying to develop a way to reach more young people. I must admit my work toward addressing and resolving this problem will continue after this class is over because once you start something that is this positive and productive you can’t just quit it because your class is over.
How was Jesus Counter Cultural?
Jesus was counter cultural because he went against the the flow of the society he lived in. Many people at the time worshipped many gods and others that were monolethic worshipped curruptly. Jesus did not support those behavior patterns and he desired to change the course of human life and lead people to “salvation”. Jesus preached about oneness meaning that there was only one God that existed and all people should worship and honor him [he also declared that he was the son of God and that he and his father was one]. He also addressed the Jews and the curruption which existed in their society. He taught them that they were not saved by works [which is really a big issue in the Torah/law] but they are saved by faith; in God and himself [Jesus]. He also taught the people in his society to love and respect one another. Jesus’ behavior and actions are/was considered to be counter cultural for two main reasons. Reason number one is because he was a very loving and generous man, in his time it was rare that people would be considerate for one another because life was so hard and material things was so hard to come by. Reason number two is because he claimed to be the messiah; Jesus did not fit the idea of the messiah, the jews was expecting some kind of “holy warrior” to come and deliver them from their troubles instead, Jesus who clamied to be the messiah taught them to abide by the laws of the land which they deemed unjust. For these reasons Jesus is considered to be counter cultural…against the “norms” of society
Is your project Counter Cultural?
I don’t think my project is counter cultural at all. I am trying to stop the spread of sexually transmitted dieases and improve desire the to learn among American Youth, just as many people have and are doing. Most people in the society I live in support this project and some are even working in projects similar to mine. Now, you may be asking yourself, “well if this is part of this culture, why is this issue still a problem?” The answer is simple. Just as trying to fight to solve these problems is part of the “norms” of this society, promoting and creating the problem is a part of this society’s culture as well. Yes, this is a sticky situation but if more people join the group that is trying to be part of the solution, as I am, then we can indeed win this battle against disease and ignorance.