Culture, Religion and Psychology

I currently am a part of a self-acclaimed culturally diverse program, where models that stress individuality and the culture of a person, like the 'ADDRESSING' and 'RESPECTFUL' model, are emphasised and verbally emphasised. At the same time, I am highly, and sadly, amused at the level of judgment and prejudice that comes up, predominantly against religion, but also against a majority of cultures considered 'not first world' or 'not modernised'.

The cultural aspect I can chuck up to an overall lack of knowledge, exposure and awareness. If your knowledge about another culture is not based on first hand knowledge to a certain extent - and by that I also mean interacting with individuals from that culture - but solely on what you see in articles written by individuals that are not a part of that culture, yet you choose to insist that your view is accurate than that of a member of the culture's, because yours is 'research based', then that is a lack/personal choice to be ignorant.

The religious aspect, that I find unsettling. It seems like there is an unspoken requirement, and a general endorsement to question/remove 'God', or the idea of religious beliefs from psychology. This is different from the concept of spirituality, which is very well embraced, most especially if its in the concept of meditation et al. However, everything in connection to religion is talked about from a judgmental stand point, and I sit listening both baffled and saddened. How and why is having faith in God a negative factor to mental health?? Why and how is being able to recognise that while there are problems associated with psychology, there are also issues that are spiritual in nature something that makes you 'superstitious' and therefore, 'not realistic'?? The message I get here is you can be a psychologist or have a religion, but you cannot be/have both. Laughing at the idea of 'exorcism', and chucking it up to 'superstition', can we still say its a self-acclaimed culturally diverse program??

And I do recognise that since I am trying to be as de-identifying as possible, some of my statements might sound judgmental and off base, but for those who know the background of where this is coming from, it might make sense and be kinda on base.

Ok, end of rant.

xo

100 Days....

So I decided to do 100 days of being thankful and 100 days of 'no complaining'. It is currently day 3, and there are two things I've found interesting and amusing thus far. The first is the difficulty in conceptualizing 'complaining'. What constitutes complaining versus 'calling a spade a spade'. I think I will need to consult google and some scholars for that.

The second amusing occurrence is the reaction of those around mi when I told them I was doing the 100 days. Everyone, without an exception, laughed, said it was impossible and didn't think I would last. I found this amusing because it either means I complain so much that going without will be impossible, or that that not complaining is against the human characteristic. I can't be offended if the former is the case, cause lets be honest, that over 50% of why I decided to embark on the challenge (I think I complain a lot in my opinion). But everyone's reaction was a bit unexpected to be honest.

I do realize it will be difficult. More than difficult actually. I initially planned on telling no one (should do a challenge on keeping secrets/sharing information on a need to know basis too....I think I'll add that actually. Though I believe this is harder than the complaining challenge), but I think this is one of those challenges you need accountability for. Knowing that so many people expect mi to not succeed is more reason for mi to want to be successful. Plus in the end, I think it will make mi a better person - more peaceful, more grateful and more optimistic.

But dang a 100 days is going to be hard. God help mi.

Day 3 done, I'd say successfully :)

xo

Mi