Reflective Journal Eqan Omar
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Trent University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
2510H
Subject
Religion
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by jamiethejamer
Importance of celebrating Religion and Cultural Identity
Eqan Omar-Reflective Journal
Personally, week two,
"Indigenous Life Teachings (World Views)/ Gender Roles/ Identity," stood out to me for several reasons. As a student of comparative religion, I cannot express the importance of studying First Nations, Inuit and Metis indigenous perspectives on identity, world views and gender roles and how indigenous life teachings create an impact on our
Canadian society. My passion for studying comparative religion started in my early twenties, as I
was exposed to a variety of cultures, beliefs and ethnicities while studying in community college.
Being a Pakistani immigrant and coming from a Muslim family, I lacked knowledge and exposure to different perspectives and practices of life since I was so customized to my own beliefs and practices. I believe studying and examining different religious practices and scriptures can encourage us to be open-minded in replacing ignorance and stereotypes with knowledge, acceptance and appreciation. The Indigenous life teachings really stood out to me in a number of ways as I could connect it to the religion of Sikhism due to similar values of honouring self-identity, respect and humility. Both beliefs highlight the necessity of living in balance with nature, with respect and compassion for all living things, and in service to others. Indigenous life traditions and Sikhism provide essential insights for living a successful and meaningful life. Indigenous life teachings and Sikhism have many principles in common that bind them together. Both religions stress the necessity of living in harmony with nature, treating all living things with respect and compassion, and dedicating one's life to the service of others. The concept of "seva", or selfless service, is one of the core ideals shared by Indigenous life traditions and Sikhism. In Sikhism, "seva" is seen as a means of serving the Divine and according to the religious precepts. Similarly, Indigenous life traditions stress the significance of service to the community and the
natural environment, and see service as an inherent component of a satisfying and meaningful life. The concept of humility ties these two belief systems to one another. In Sikhism, humility is seen as an essential attribute that enables people to connect with the divine and live a life of service to others. Similarly, Indigenous life traditions highlight the significance of humility in all parts of life and see it as a crucial element of a good and balanced lifestyle. Both indigenous life philosophies and Sikhism emphasize the significance of community and connections. In Sikhism, "sangat", or community, is seen as a fundamental component of spiritual practice, and it
stresses the significance of connecting with people and establishing relationships based on mutual respect and compassion. Likewise, indigenous life teachings highlight the need to establish and sustain close ties with individuals and the natural environment. Although I do not identify as Sikh, I greatly respect the religion as it honours humanity by encouraging each being to celebrate and honour their sacred teachings, practices and beliefs. The concept that really connects with me and from what I have learned in class so far is the importance of living a life of service to others, practicing humility, and living in harmony with the natural world. Furthermore, another week that stood out to me was week eight. In week eight, in class, we discussed the concept of "Killing the Indian in the child." As an immigrant who has struggled
with cultural identity. I felt like Canadian Modern Western Society was trying to kill the "Indian"
within me. My Pakistani family moved to Canada in hopes of providing their children with education, rights and liberty. However, growing up, I felt as if I did not fit in with the "normal" Canadian children because I had a unique/hard-to-pronounce name and could not speak English fluently.
Although being different is considered to be a positive thing, however, in my case, I was constantly bullied throughout elementary and high school for my appearance because I didn't look like the other Caucasian kids. Due to my tan skin, dark hair and South Asian features, my peers did not accept me. As someone who did not fit in with the "normal" ideal child with light skin and Caucasian facial features, I struggled a lot with my identity because I was made to believe that in order to be successful, I needed to learn how to act "white" in order to fit in and be
accepted. This negatively impacted my emotions because I grew up believing that the only way I
would succeed within Canadian society and be accepted by my peers was to act "white" and adapt to the western culture and practices. Because of this, I lacked a sense of belonging which shattered my self-esteem and self-confidence but, most importantly, ruined my identity. Growing
up, I always felt torn between two cultures and identities, leading to feelings of confusion and displacement because, as a child, I was expected to comply with my parent's expectations of the culture yet participate in the western culture. As a Canadian university student, I am learning to overcome these challenges and barriers with a greater sense of appreciation and understanding of my culture while celebrating my heritage. Moreover, from personal experience, I believe it may assist kids in better navigating the demands of their home culture and their new home as well as better understanding and appreciating their ancestry. To guarantee that immigrant children may develop and prosper in their new homes, it is crucial to assist them in overcoming the barriers of cultural identification. Parents may assist their children, who are the offspring of immigrants, in navigating their dual identity and feeling more a part of their ancestry by giving them the support, tools, and knowledge they need to be successful contributing members of society.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
References
Mucina, M.K. (2019). Spirituality and a Search for Home: The Complexities of Practising Sikhism on Indigenous Land. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25320-2_3 Pirnasar, M. (2023) Week Indigenous Worldviews: Life Cycle Teachings/ Gender Roles/ Identity. [Word Document] Trent University Blackboard. https://trentu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?
course_id=_49954_1&content_id=_1479817_1
Pirnasar, M. (2023) Week Intergenerational Trauma and Impact. [Word Document] Trent University Blackboard. https://trentu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?
cmd=view&content_id=_1505829_1&course_id=_49954_1&framesetWrapped=true. Rana, M., Lara-Cooper, K. (2021). Identity, Relationships, and Community as Antidotes for Historic and Race-Based Trauma: Lessons from Sikh and Indigenous Communities.
ADV
RES SCI
2, 269–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-021-00050-w