Title: The Effect of Culture on Relationships Especially Among Christians
Name: Angel Sara George
Mentor(s): Nicole Walker & Carly Wicklund
Project Site:
One of the project sites for this project is Ridge View High School (4801 Hard Scrabble Rd, Columbia, SC 29229). A survey was given out to random students and faculty members at Ridge View. It was given out to people with African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, White American and Hispanic or Latino backgrounds, but it was also given to people with different religions. Although the survey broadened the project, further study will be done at Ridge View High school and ______. This final study will be done on Christians only.
Personal Statement:
The one reason I want to do this topic is because I myself am a Christian. I believe it is important to stand for what you believe despite what others may say or do. I thought I should make this stance and let others be aware of it, too. The fact that I have been born and brought up in a Pentecostal family also adds to why I have chosen this topic. Because of this background, I have always practiced the strictest forms of Christian beliefs.
One thing the Bible teaches which we follow is the Great Commission. In Matthew 28, Matthew quotes Jesus, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ A very similar verse can be seen in Acts 1:8: ‘But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ While the goal of this particular project is not to “convert” anyone to this faith, I strongly believe in impacting the lives of the people I may come across one way or another.
Finally, through this project, I may be able to contribute to the society as a whole. Based on observation, some people let go of their own practices and join their friends to just simply fit in. In other situations, they profess about having such and such beliefs, feelings, etc. This is hypocrisy or false appearance. I may be able to find the factors that may influence each person on a day to day basis. I will have the opportunity to talk with individuals and encourage him or her to stand true to what he or she believes.
Objective:
The purpose of this essay is to analyze the impact of cultural changes that led to differences in marriages and divorces over time. I will be looking at marriage and divorce statistics by culture: African Americans and the Black Community, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics and Latinos, study done by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). I will also be looking at the Bible as a reference to address the Christian views on marriage and how culture has caused Christians to deviate from those beliefs. The research will done at Ridge View High School and ______. It will be given to students and faculty members picked at random who identifies his or her religion as Christianity.
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Background and Rationale:
The Bible explicitly states how marriage is between a man and a woman. The first marriage in the Bible was constituted by God Himself. God created a partner for Adam, Eve, not another Adam, showing that a perfect relationship requires a certain level of differences as well as similarity. When God created Eve, He did not separate Eve, but she was the part of Adam. Adam says, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (King James Version (KJV), Gen. 2.23-24). In the New Testament, Jesus affirms this: “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (KJV, Matt. 19.4-5).
The Bible clearly does not support homosexuality, and this is not new either. God warns His people though the example of Sodom and Gomorrah: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha [mentioned in Genesis 19], and the cities about them in like manner [about five cities were destroyed], giving themselves over to fornicatin, and going after strange flesh [homosexuality], are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (KJV, Jude 1.7). The same can be seen in 2 Peter 2:6: “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” (KJV). The Bible holds those who approve of such things just as guilty and accountable as those who practice them: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness . . . For this cause God have them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet . . . Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (KJV, Rom. 1.18, 26-27, 32). Earthly marriage is a shadow of our heavenly marriage with Jesus Christ, our bridegroom, wherein we are united by His love through the Holy Spirit, which is inseparable (KJV, Rom. 8.35). Therefore, the love between a man and a woman after marriage should be one that is inseparable, a true love. Also, the Bible does not permit one to divorce and remarry unless the circumstances clearly legitimizes the divorce such as in a case where one is unfaithful in the marriage. Jesus Himself says in Matthew: “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (KJV, Matt. 19.9).
Often in the society, many identify themselves are Christians. Some do not have a basic understanding of Christianity, yet others ignore the teaching. It is important to address this to the society, especially to among Christians because it is important for one to know what he or she is standing for.
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Project Methodology:
For this research, mixed methods, both quantitative and qualitative will be used. Surveys will be given to faculty members and students at Ridge View High school. Interviews will be conducted at _________ as well. The study will be done based on the interview and the survey. Research will serve as quantitative study. The surveys and interviews will serve as qualitative and quantitative study as the study will be assessed from the answer participants give to questions asked about their religion, religion of their parents, how strong they are in their faith, what they believe the Bible teaches about marriage and divorce, their own view on marriage and divorce, whether or not they believe homosexuality is morally acceptable and finally what their belief system is most influenced by.
Timeline:
October 1: Confirm a Mentor
October 14: Make an outline of what needs to be considered in the survey/interview
October 18: Be finished with the questions for survey and interview
October 24: Show questions to mentor
December 5: Have completed interview and online survey
January 5: If need be, revise questions
February 1: Analyze data
Budget:
(None) Surveys will be given online through Google Forms.
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