Interdependence

We are teaching women today that they should be strong and independent. Learn to live life without a man. Learn to have happiness on your own. Convince yourself that you don't need anyone else but you are beautiful by yourself and with God.

Here's the problem with that. God created us for each other. Not even specifically for romantic relationships but just as people in general we are created for each other.

The Japanese are a "sweetly" interdependent culture while the United States is a strongly independent culture. What's interesting is that in the United States if we are dependent on someone else we are seen as insecure and unstable. In Japan if you are too independent you are viewed as selfish and rude.

I guess my major thoughts on this are why do we teach cultural values such as independence in the church setting (which makes the automatically associated with our Christian walk) when in fact that may not be the best or right way. Why do we as Americans think that is so bad to depend on one another? In Japan, you just count on each other. It is an unspoken way of living in which everyone counts on everyone else and everyone is dependable and reliable. You can't find those characteristics to often in the US. But we are so ethnocentric that we believe our way is better and right. And yet, think about what it would look like if we did things a little bit more collectivistically like the Japanese. Then think about this, which was is truly more Biblical? Was Christ dependent or independent?

*steps off soapbox*