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Faculty Essay
Melody Harper Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Global Studies, Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University
Cultural Intelligence: PEDAGOGY FOR KINGDOM-ORIENTED EDUCATION In 2001, I was living and working in Southeast Asia. A normal week included traveling to various countries in the region, discovering the richness of each new culture, and experiencing the religious rhythms of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism among those with whom I met. Between travels, I would return home to the island nation of Singapore. My neighbors were Chinese, my closest friend was Indian, and my favorite shop owner and his family were Malaysian. The diversity of cultures around me challenged my worldview and deepened my faith; my view of God expanded, my belief in God’s word was strengthened, and my understanding of God’s love for all people grew. It was here that my firsthand experience with various cultures began. Now, I find myself in Lynchburg, Virginia. While not the same metropolis of culture that Singapore is, it is certainly more culturally diverse than one might expect for a small town. The world is more connected today than at any other point in human history. Technology has removed the
barriers of travel and connection, voluntary migration has increased, and conversely, involuntary migration due to regional conflicts and natural disasters has produced unprecedented levels of displacement and a global refugee crisis unequaled in history.1 Technology has also connected us on a very individual level as well—our very phones alert us every few minutes with updates of events and opinions from both down the street and around the world. This is just a very brief snapshot of the realities experienced by the 7.6 billion people of our world.2 Though each individual life of these billions is created in God’s image and loved by the Creator, only about 2.2 billion, approximately 31%, identify as Christian.3 Christianity is currently the largest religion in the world, with more followers in Latin America and Asia than in North America and Europe. The concentration of Christianity in these areas will likely continue, but current trends also project Islam will soon be the largest religion in the world.4 While some Christians may seek