power and its beauty. Even today, poets are the rocks stars of the Arab world.
The Arab culture may appear “weird” to the West, because it is not our
W.E.I.R.D., but it is how they live and think.
In Day Four Greg compared American and Arab values: what motivates
people, how they think, and what their priorities are:
Americans Middle East
Individualism Group loyalty
Self-reliance Cooperation
Mobility Sticking together
Equality/Impartiality
Status/Favoritism
Hard work/material gain
Birthright/Status
Religion/personal choice
Religion/Group label
Control our own lives
Fatalism
Nuclear family
Extended family
Youth veneration
Age veneration
Direct resolution of conflict
Intermediaries/indirect resolution
Confrontation/assertive
Harmony
Objective/logical/linear
Subjective/personal/relationships
Guilt avoidance
Shame avoidance
These factors are at the root of the challenges in understanding each other’s
cultures and building productive, trustworthy relationships. Greg concluded
by mentioning three things to keep in mind during any human encounter –
especially cross-cultural encounters:
• Know yourself
• Open-mindedness
• Empathy
(Contact: [email protected])
The Rev. Jeremy F. Simons
Blueprint for Success
The subheading for this series was: “What
is our strategy for the future of the Church? Is it
working?”
(Jeremy provided extensive, detailed handouts
for each session, including such supplementary
handouts as: The Principles of the Academy, 1899, Brief Form; Swedenborgian
Influence in 19th Century America; and The State of the Christian World –
According to the Heavenly Doctrines. If you would like copies contact: Jeremy.
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