Culture is a combination of the beliefs, customs, values and traditions that people in a given community follow (Riahi-Belkaoui 53). Culture is inherited from the ancestors of a community. Some cultural practices are generated as the society continues to grow with time. Cultural systems are very strong and people take time to change them. Cultural practices are established by the people in a certain society and are derived from the environment in which people are living in (Schumaker, Ward 48).
Relativity refers to the state of the personal definition of some factors (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 84). The term explains that the generalization of ideas should not persist but people should be judged as individuals but not as a group. The opinion of a person is distinct and should be respected. Relativity of opinions states that no person is right or wrong. People should not judge others on the basis of their own opinions since each person has hisher own right to decide what is right or wrong (Axtell 69).
Cultural relativity has advantages and disadvantages. Some aspects of cultural relativism are important, for instance, food, clothing, driving rules, language and many others. These aspects are appropriate, since people have diverse cultures with different lifestyles (Hamlin 12). People are given the freedom to shape their own destiny using their own cultural set up. Cultural relativity also allows people to develop their own systems of living without interference from others (Schumaker, Ward 76).
However, the concept of cultural relativity has caused many conflicts among people and countries. Some countries have forced other ones to adopt their cultural systems. This has created many conflicts and many people have died as a result (Boulanger, Sarat 71). Cultural relativism has received a lot of criticism from many people. Many people belief that some cultures are not morally acceptable and should be eliminated. People have developed universally acceptable cultures. In the era of globalization, people interact with each other and exchange their cultural views. This has brought about universally acceptable practices as people have developed behaviors due to interaction (Schumaker, Ward 76).
Theoretical concept of cultural relativism
The concepts of cultural relativism indicate that all cultures are equal (Mcwhinney 124). Beliefs, values, customs, traditions and ethics that a certain group of people have are relative to a person according to the society heshe is living in. Culture determines what is right or wrong. Some things are right or wrong in certain cultures while others have contrary statements about the same issues. Morals are defined by specific cultures (Hamlin 312). Therefore, no individual can judge the culture of other people. All cultures are of equal value and no single culture is superior to the other. What is considered right or wrong is defined by the specific culture. No society can judge the other since truth is relative. Relatively, no culture is wrong or right it is a matter of personal judgment (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 89).
Cultural relativity states that truth is subjective (Schumaker, Ward 65). The ethics followed by certain people are relative. The principles of any ethical systems are determined by the culture of the people concerned. What is considered wrong or right by certain people may not happen so to other people or societies. There are no objective standards which determine truth. Therefore, truth is not objective. Truth is subject to the people who adhere to a certain system of truths. People should not enforce other people to accept their system of truths since each person or community has its own truths. No single person or society has a superior opinion about what is true or not true (Axtell 60).
Some practical examples relating the theory of cultural relativism
The representatives of the Islamic religion believe in jihads and this has been a cause of fight between the Islamic and the Western communities (Hunter, p. 25). The former president of the US, George W. Bush argued that terrorist countries are evil and should be stopped from continuing with their cultural activities which create terrorism. According to relativists, one society should not call the society evil because what is evil in one community may or might not be evil in the other community. The western countries have started the idea of understanding the Islamic culture instead of fighting it. The Islamic culture accepts the belief that suicide bombing is not evil. The western countries should stop imposing the idea that suicide bombing of civilians is wrong. The belief in Islamic jihad should remain valid as any other culture in the western countries (Axtell 67). The fight against the Islamic jihad by the Americans resulted to retaliation during the September 11 terrorist attack on the US. This indicates that no culture should be considered as evil. All cultures are good and bad according to the people within those cultural systems (Hunter 28).
The Mayan community practiced self mutilation and human sacrifices. On the other hand, the Americans practice shooting fireworks on the fourth day of July each year. Both cultures should not be considered as good or bad. The missionaries criticized the Mayan practices and suggested that they were evil. The Mayan culture should not be considered bad or good by any other culture. The same case applies to the American practices of shooting fireworks. Both are different cultures from different societies and none should be criticized by any person from other cultures (Schumaker, Ward 49).
Christians value all people equally, since God created people being equal and none is superior to the other (Dilley 132). They also appreciate and value the differences in the cultures that exist in the human race. Contrary to the principles of cultural relativism, the teachings of the Christian religion state that truth is not relative. Not all beliefs are Godly. Some cultures do not benefit the people in the society. Truth is objective and not subjective. Christians have some standards of measuring what is moral and immoral. The Holly Bible provides a system of behaviors which are acceptable and not acceptable. It sets up standards that should be followed by all Christians irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. Therefore, culture should not be considered to be entirely relative (Mcwhinney 124).
Some people who advocate for cultural relativism oppose the work of missionaries. Missionaries belief that when the gospel is preached to the people, some change occurs in the lives of the people. Missionaries seek to change cultural beliefs of the people which are not Godly. For example, cannibalism, polygamy among others. Though cultural relativists argue that no culture is good or bad, it is common knowledge that some practices such as cannibalism are not good (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 51).
Missionaries brought with them the western cultures to the African communities (Ka1it1ba_1i 23). These cultures marked the beginning of civilization to the Africans. The main intentions of the missionaries were not to bring the western cultures but to spread the gospel of God to the African communities. They condemned all the practices that were against humanity as provided by the Bible. Some of the African cultures that were criticized were polygamy, slave trade, idol worship, and human sacrifices. They gave standards of morality which they believed were acceptable by God. The missionaries respected and preserved the practices that were not creating conflicts with the teachings of the Bible (Boulanger, Sarat 73).
Conclusion
Culture is relative to an individual and the people in a particular society. The beliefs and values that people in a given culture follow are unique. No culture is right or wrong. A culture is right or wrong according to the people who practice it. This indicates that people should respect other peoples cultural practices since no culture is superior to the other. Truth is relative since people have different opinions concerning what is true or not true.
However, there are universally accepted cultural practices and truths. Some of the cultures are defined by the religions that people in different nations adhere to. The cultural systems must not conflict the natural rights of people. There are fundamental rights that have been established and any culture must follow them. The international law provides a list of human rights that people and governments must adhere to. This indicates that culture is not totally relative but there are restrictions which have been set to ensure that cultures do not cause chaos.
Relativity refers to the state of the personal definition of some factors (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 84). The term explains that the generalization of ideas should not persist but people should be judged as individuals but not as a group. The opinion of a person is distinct and should be respected. Relativity of opinions states that no person is right or wrong. People should not judge others on the basis of their own opinions since each person has hisher own right to decide what is right or wrong (Axtell 69).
Cultural relativity has advantages and disadvantages. Some aspects of cultural relativism are important, for instance, food, clothing, driving rules, language and many others. These aspects are appropriate, since people have diverse cultures with different lifestyles (Hamlin 12). People are given the freedom to shape their own destiny using their own cultural set up. Cultural relativity also allows people to develop their own systems of living without interference from others (Schumaker, Ward 76).
However, the concept of cultural relativity has caused many conflicts among people and countries. Some countries have forced other ones to adopt their cultural systems. This has created many conflicts and many people have died as a result (Boulanger, Sarat 71). Cultural relativism has received a lot of criticism from many people. Many people belief that some cultures are not morally acceptable and should be eliminated. People have developed universally acceptable cultures. In the era of globalization, people interact with each other and exchange their cultural views. This has brought about universally acceptable practices as people have developed behaviors due to interaction (Schumaker, Ward 76).
Theoretical concept of cultural relativism
The concepts of cultural relativism indicate that all cultures are equal (Mcwhinney 124). Beliefs, values, customs, traditions and ethics that a certain group of people have are relative to a person according to the society heshe is living in. Culture determines what is right or wrong. Some things are right or wrong in certain cultures while others have contrary statements about the same issues. Morals are defined by specific cultures (Hamlin 312). Therefore, no individual can judge the culture of other people. All cultures are of equal value and no single culture is superior to the other. What is considered right or wrong is defined by the specific culture. No society can judge the other since truth is relative. Relatively, no culture is wrong or right it is a matter of personal judgment (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 89).
Cultural relativity states that truth is subjective (Schumaker, Ward 65). The ethics followed by certain people are relative. The principles of any ethical systems are determined by the culture of the people concerned. What is considered wrong or right by certain people may not happen so to other people or societies. There are no objective standards which determine truth. Therefore, truth is not objective. Truth is subject to the people who adhere to a certain system of truths. People should not enforce other people to accept their system of truths since each person or community has its own truths. No single person or society has a superior opinion about what is true or not true (Axtell 60).
Some practical examples relating the theory of cultural relativism
The representatives of the Islamic religion believe in jihads and this has been a cause of fight between the Islamic and the Western communities (Hunter, p. 25). The former president of the US, George W. Bush argued that terrorist countries are evil and should be stopped from continuing with their cultural activities which create terrorism. According to relativists, one society should not call the society evil because what is evil in one community may or might not be evil in the other community. The western countries have started the idea of understanding the Islamic culture instead of fighting it. The Islamic culture accepts the belief that suicide bombing is not evil. The western countries should stop imposing the idea that suicide bombing of civilians is wrong. The belief in Islamic jihad should remain valid as any other culture in the western countries (Axtell 67). The fight against the Islamic jihad by the Americans resulted to retaliation during the September 11 terrorist attack on the US. This indicates that no culture should be considered as evil. All cultures are good and bad according to the people within those cultural systems (Hunter 28).
The Mayan community practiced self mutilation and human sacrifices. On the other hand, the Americans practice shooting fireworks on the fourth day of July each year. Both cultures should not be considered as good or bad. The missionaries criticized the Mayan practices and suggested that they were evil. The Mayan culture should not be considered bad or good by any other culture. The same case applies to the American practices of shooting fireworks. Both are different cultures from different societies and none should be criticized by any person from other cultures (Schumaker, Ward 49).
Christians value all people equally, since God created people being equal and none is superior to the other (Dilley 132). They also appreciate and value the differences in the cultures that exist in the human race. Contrary to the principles of cultural relativism, the teachings of the Christian religion state that truth is not relative. Not all beliefs are Godly. Some cultures do not benefit the people in the society. Truth is objective and not subjective. Christians have some standards of measuring what is moral and immoral. The Holly Bible provides a system of behaviors which are acceptable and not acceptable. It sets up standards that should be followed by all Christians irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. Therefore, culture should not be considered to be entirely relative (Mcwhinney 124).
Some people who advocate for cultural relativism oppose the work of missionaries. Missionaries belief that when the gospel is preached to the people, some change occurs in the lives of the people. Missionaries seek to change cultural beliefs of the people which are not Godly. For example, cannibalism, polygamy among others. Though cultural relativists argue that no culture is good or bad, it is common knowledge that some practices such as cannibalism are not good (Hengelbrock, Botz-Bornstein 51).
Missionaries brought with them the western cultures to the African communities (Ka1it1ba_1i 23). These cultures marked the beginning of civilization to the Africans. The main intentions of the missionaries were not to bring the western cultures but to spread the gospel of God to the African communities. They condemned all the practices that were against humanity as provided by the Bible. Some of the African cultures that were criticized were polygamy, slave trade, idol worship, and human sacrifices. They gave standards of morality which they believed were acceptable by God. The missionaries respected and preserved the practices that were not creating conflicts with the teachings of the Bible (Boulanger, Sarat 73).
Conclusion
Culture is relative to an individual and the people in a particular society. The beliefs and values that people in a given culture follow are unique. No culture is right or wrong. A culture is right or wrong according to the people who practice it. This indicates that people should respect other peoples cultural practices since no culture is superior to the other. Truth is relative since people have different opinions concerning what is true or not true.
However, there are universally accepted cultural practices and truths. Some of the cultures are defined by the religions that people in different nations adhere to. The cultural systems must not conflict the natural rights of people. There are fundamental rights that have been established and any culture must follow them. The international law provides a list of human rights that people and governments must adhere to. This indicates that culture is not totally relative but there are restrictions which have been set to ensure that cultures do not cause chaos.
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