Overview
Each of you first learned your cultural beliefs in your childhood home and these beliefs become the foundation for how you believe things should be done. Because these beliefs are so ingrained, we often don’t even realize they are there. Revisiting our childhood homes alongside people who had different experiences can enable you to discover your own cultural beliefs and values. Armed with that self-knowledge, you will better understand the cultural differences you encounter, which is the first step to building lasting connections with people from other cultures.
This course, which is the second course in the Bridging Cultural Differences through Cultural Self-Discovery series, presents a theory of culture to understand cultural differences and why a learner responds in the way they do to cultural differences. It is highly recommended that you complete Course 1: Aspects of Cultural Self-Discovery before delving into Course 2: How Our Culture is Seen in Everyday Life to gain a holistic understanding of the series’ learning material. As learners recognize the cultures that influence their behavior, they will at the same time be able to understand how their behavior may reflect more cultural values than biblical values. By understanding their culture, learners will be more open to considering how to better apply biblical principles in their relationships with others.
Sheryl Takagi Silzer, Ph.D., is a third generation Japanese American multicultural consultant with SIL International and Wycliffe Bible Translators. She served for many years in Colombia, South America and in the Asia Pacific area. She currently facilitates Cultural Self Discovery workshops for multicultural mission teams, mission agencies, schools and churches around the world. The workshops are based on her book “Biblical Multicultural Teams: Applying Biblical Truth to Cultural Differences” (2011). She teaches as an adjunct in Talbot’s Asian ministry classes. Her most recent research focus is delving into how Asian cultural practices are influenced by Asian philosophies and religions (such as Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism), especially in relation to the honor/shame dynamic.Her most recent book “Tapestry of Grace: Untangling the Cultural Complexities of Asian American Life and Ministry” co-author with Dr. Ben Shin reflects that research and interest (2016). She and her husband Peter have two married sons and five grandchildren.
Talbot School of Theology is a theologically conservative, evangelical seminary in Southern California near Los Angeles. With over a 60-year heritage of biblical fidelity, the seminary couples solid evangelical scholarship with spiritual formation to prepare students for a lifetime of relevant, effective ministry. The seminary's master's degree programs and doctoral degree programs are led by a faculty of nationally renowned, widely-published and actively engaged ministry leaders.
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 1-2 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the reflection and discussion questions. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a packaged small group curriculum, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
This curriculum is designed in companionship with the text in which this series is based upon: “Biblical Multicultural Teams: Applying Biblical Truth to Cultural Differences,” Sheryl Takagi Silzer, 2011. It is highly recommended that you purchase a copy to read alongside the course material. There are also resources recommended at the end of the course that you are free to purchase if you wish to pursue further study on the course topic.
These videos are only available on Biola LEARN. You will also need to be connected to the internet to view these videos.
Each of you first learned your cultural beliefs in your childhood home and these beliefs become the foundation for how you believe things should be done. Because these beliefs are so ingrained, we often don’t even realize they are there. Revisiting our childhood homes alongside people who had different experiences can enable you to discover your own cultural beliefs and values. Armed with that self-knowledge, you will better understand the cultural differences you encounter, which is the first step to building lasting connections with people from other cultures.
This course, which is the second course in the Bridging Cultural Differences through Cultural Self-Discovery series, presents a theory of culture to understand cultural differences and why a learner responds in the way they do to cultural differences. It is highly recommended that you complete Course 1: Aspects of Cultural Self-Discovery before delving into Course 2: How Our Culture is Seen in Everyday Life to gain a holistic understanding of the series’ learning material. As learners recognize the cultures that influence their behavior, they will at the same time be able to understand how their behavior may reflect more cultural values than biblical values. By understanding their culture, learners will be more open to considering how to better apply biblical principles in their relationships with others.
Sheryl Takagi Silzer, Ph.D., is a third generation Japanese American multicultural consultant with SIL International and Wycliffe Bible Translators. She served for many years in Colombia, South America and in the Asia Pacific area. She currently facilitates Cultural Self Discovery workshops for multicultural mission teams, mission agencies, schools and churches around the world. The workshops are based on her book “Biblical Multicultural Teams: Applying Biblical Truth to Cultural Differences” (2011). She teaches as an adjunct in Talbot’s Asian ministry classes. Her most recent research focus is delving into how Asian cultural practices are influenced by Asian philosophies and religions (such as Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism), especially in relation to the honor/shame dynamic.Her most recent book “Tapestry of Grace: Untangling the Cultural Complexities of Asian American Life and Ministry” co-author with Dr. Ben Shin reflects that research and interest (2016). She and her husband Peter have two married sons and five grandchildren.
Talbot School of Theology is a theologically conservative, evangelical seminary in Southern California near Los Angeles. With over a 60-year heritage of biblical fidelity, the seminary couples solid evangelical scholarship with spiritual formation to prepare students for a lifetime of relevant, effective ministry. The seminary's master's degree programs and doctoral degree programs are led by a faculty of nationally renowned, widely-published and actively engaged ministry leaders.
Syllabus
| Participant and Facilitator Small Group Guides Resource |
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| In this lesson you will learn how culture... Overview |
| How We Communicate, Socialize, and Show Hospitality Video |
| In this lesson you will learn about different... Overview |
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| How You Prepare, Serve, and Eat Food Video |
| Participant and Facilitator Small Group Guides Resource |
| How You View Work Lesson 3 |
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| In this lesson you will look at the two main... Overview |
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| How You View Work Video |
| In this lesson you will consider how culture... Overview |
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| How You Rest, Relax, Sleep, and Worship Video |
| One of the major cultural differences that... Overview |
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| How You View What is Clean and What is Dirty Video |
| In this final lesson, you will review how the... Overview |
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| Cultural Understanding Enhancing Lives and Church Fellowship Video |
| Course Evaluation Resource |
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 1-2 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the reflection and discussion questions. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
Since this course is designed as a packaged small group curriculum, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
This curriculum is designed in companionship with the text in which this series is based upon: “Biblical Multicultural Teams: Applying Biblical Truth to Cultural Differences,” Sheryl Takagi Silzer, 2011. It is highly recommended that you purchase a copy to read alongside the course material. There are also resources recommended at the end of the course that you are free to purchase if you wish to pursue further study on the course topic.
These videos are only available on Biola LEARN. You will also need to be connected to the internet to view these videos.