Dr. Robert Osburn

1. Dr. Robert Osburn • Lecturer, Dept. of Educational Policy and Administration: • Religion and International Development (EdPA 5080; grad and undergrad; 3 credits; Fall 2011) • Religion, Ethics, and Educational Policy (EdPA 3036; undergrad; 3 credits; Spring 2012) • Executive Director, Wilberforce Academy • Training college students to help develop their home societies • Mentoring • Specialized study

2. Navigating American Culture Robert Osburn, PhD Executive Director Wilberforce Academy Presentation to China Outreach Ministries September 10, 2011

3. The “Three Threes” Three primary…. • American cultural distinctives • Trends in American culture • Resources for succeeding in America

4. A Letter from a Singaporean Chinese Friend “When Americans have dogs and cats in their homes---sometimes on their beds--- what's a trifling thing like shoes on their feet in their homes? What I find more interesting is to see well-dressed Americans walking on the streets--barefoot. No, they are not hobos. They daintily carry their very nice shoes in their hands. And...what about restaurant signs that read "No socks, no shoes, no service"? You see...when some Americans are in their homes, they wear their shoes. When they are outside their homes, they go barefoot. America is a wonderful place, XXXXXX XXX”

5. Cultural contradictions and complexities

6. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Pragmatism • Dynamism

7. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Success is individual, not communal • Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (2001), by Harvard professor Robert Putnam • Personal responsibility = Innovation and creativity

8. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Habits of the Heart (1985), by Berkeley professor Robert Bellah: • Expressive individualism = Seeking others’ attention by your behavior (e.g., American Idol) • Utilitarian individualism = Using people and things to accomplish personal objectives (e.g., The Apprentice)

9. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Mid-Autumn Festival (mooncakes, etc.): • A time of communal joy for Chinese • American have their times of communal joy (Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, in particular), but these are a cultural contradiction resulting from the tension between earlier Christian culture (fostering community) and current secular culture (fostering individualism)

10. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Pragmatism = Valuing what works more than truth (what corresponds to reality) • Rewards hard work, planning, and meeting real needs • American pragmatism has always benefited from Christian ethic of honesty • Closest similarity to Chinese culture • John Dewey (1888 prof. at U of MN; earlDy 1920s in China)

11. Three Primary American Cultural Distinctives • Individualism • Pragmatism • Dynamism = Importance of change and innovation, rather than stability and harmony • American pioneer spirit (always discovering) • Assumes relatively stable moral framework

12. Three Primary Trends in American Life and Culture • Pluralism • Culture War • Globalization

13. Three Primary Trends in American Life and Culture • Pluralism (since 1970) • (1) Multiple moral, philosophical, and religious visions for American society • (2) Multiple ethnicities sharing life in USA, including millions of people with Chinese ancestry

14. Three Primary Trends in American Life and Culture • Pluralism • Culture War • Since 1970, two moral visions have competed • Christian vision of universal, enduring morality based in God (many Jews and Muslims share this) • Postmodern vision of changing morality based on social needs/historical forces

15. Three Primary Trends in American Life and Culture • Pluralism • Culture War • Globalization • Increasing inter-connection between America and the rest of the world: technology, trade, travel, education, and business • American problems are no longer separate from problems of others around the globe Samuel Huntington: Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity (2004).

16. Three Primary Trends in American Life and Culture 9/11 Anniversary

17. Three Resources for Navigating American Culture • Reliable map • Generous and honest fellow travelers • Wise guide

18. Three Resources for Navigating American Culture • Reliable map • “Mental map,” or worldview that helps you make sense of what you encounter in America • Helps makes sense of cultural contradictions in US America, as well as cultural complexities • Ultimately, it should correspond to the shape of reality

19. Three Resources for Navigating American Culture • Reliable map • “Mental map,” or worldview that helps you make sense of what you encounter in America • Thee are three primary “mental maps” that define US American culture • Scientific naturalism (science/technology) • Postmodernism (humanities/social sciences) • Christianity (historical basis for US America)

20. Three Resources for Navigating American Culture • Reliable map • Generous and honest fellow travelers • Kind, honest and generous • Needed when facing the “U-curve of adjustment” (next 6 months) • Followers of Jesus Christ

21. Three Resources for Navigating American Culture • Reliable map • Generous and honest fellow travelers • Wise Guide • Obstacles and challenges greater than you can imagine • One who never abandons you, but walks with you faithfully (Hebrews 13:5) • Jesus Christ (rational choice to follow Him)

22. The “Three Threes” • Three primary American cultural distinctives • Three primary trends in American culture • Three primary resources for successfully navigating American life and culture

23. Three Questions • What attracted you to study in the USA? • What is your biggest surprise about American culture and life? • What do you think about the suggested resources for navigating American life and culture?