Unit 2-Who has Culture? Theme 4 – What is Culture?

Culture is… a set of meanings, beliefs, values and rules for living shared by groups and societies as the source of their identity. Culture is learned from family, society and tradition. It is not genetically inherited from our parents. Culture is also changeable over time, by its citizens. (you )

Christian Culture Ever since the Middle Ages, western institutions (educational, health, legal) and societies developed upon a Christian ‘model’ of values and beliefs about the world and how it should be. Many of our statutory holidays actually used to be considered ‘Holy’ days rather than simply vacation days.

As our culture grows increasingly multi- cultural, the emphasis upon Christian meanings, beliefs, values and practices begins to decrease, in order to include those of other groups. If our society is to include all of its members, we must recognize these important, cultural elements in each of us.

Cultural Influences: Medium Questions 1. How does the medium represent and influence youth culture? 2. What appeals most to you, about this medium? 3. How does this medium have an impact on how you behave, dress, eat, date, etc.?

4. How free are we to reject or accept the values, beliefs, and meanings of the medium? 5. Who sponsors the medium? What values do they seem to have? How would they like to influence you? 6. What pressure do you feel to follow the trends, language and behaviours promoted by the medium?

Youth Culture Video

Culture is… Culture is the way of life of a society, a community, a family. Culture is the pattern of human thought and behaviour in society. Culture is the way I speak, act, laugh, dress, etc.

Our World… w0TMCI

1. Humans Create Culture. Plants and animals don’t appear to have culture. Its origin isn’t genetic or biological.

2. Culture consists of ways of doing things. It’s about how we do things, not simply the fact that we do it. (e.g. how we pray) It’s also about the meaning underlying all that we do. It relates to our shared values.

3. Culture is public. It’s about how we do things, as a group, not as individuals.

4. Culture arises from tradition. The ways in which we do things are passed down to us from parents and ancestors. (e.g. Christmas celebrations, how we greet each other, how we choose government leaders)

5. Culture is made up of rule- governed actions. Tradition brings a sense of duty with it, a feeling that we have to follow it and carry it on. This is natural. This introduces a system of rules and guidelines that we need to obey. (sometimes we rebel…and create new traditions in the process)

6. Culture becomes established in institutions. The ways in which we do things connect with others to form systems. We call these systems institutions. (e.g. marriage, family, Church)

7. Culture gives us our identity. Our culture can be a way of seeing ourselves as different from other cultures, in other countries. It helps us to recognize who we are.

Church and Culture Qo8BEE

100 People ldDYg

Principle # 4 To be human is to live in a culture of shared beliefs, values and meanings.