#4 What does God expect us to do for other cultures and faiths?

In the world we live in today, there are many cultures and faiths that people choose to follow. As everyone has different backgrounds, everyone has different perspectives and attitude toward many things since, by logic, different backgrounds value different ideas. The ideas that a particular group of people honor are valued because, according to their beliefs, they carry utterly important significance. Hence, it is not appropriate to affirm that one’s culture and faiths are insignificant, unethical, or unrighteous.

As Christians, we should not only pursue lives in accordance with God’s teachings but also spread the gospel of God to the nonbelievers. In other words, our mission on Earth is to evangelize the nonbelievers in order to ‘save’ them from sinful nature. Evangelization is all about leading the nonbelievers to accept Christian values, ideas, and customs in order to convert them to Christians. To draw the nonbelievers to the Christian world, inevitably, the Christians would have to prove that their concepts are more logical and attractive than any other faiths. Thus, they are faced with a situation where they belittle other faiths in order to justify their faiths. Although this is not the case for many Christians, there are extremists who strongly disapprove of other faiths and deride other religions.

However, in my opinion, faiths other than Christianity also have significance and hence should not be considered unimportant. Therefore, we need to find a way to coexist. I believe that God has created the followers of the other religions for a reason and purpose, thus it is not within our rights to insult them in any way. Consequently, I argue that God desires and pursues peace, in other words coexistence, among different faiths. Nevertheless, the truth remains unchanged – believe in God and receive salvation, then the doors of the heaven would open with eternal glory. Everyone has the rights to make decisions in their lives, hence choosing the entrance to the heaven is for them to choose. Although God cares for them, if they choose not to follow him, then they will face the cnosequences of their decision.

#6 What does Jesus want us to do for the Sawi?

Our mission, as Christians, is to spread the gospels of God to everyone on Earth. Jesus Christ was sent to the Earth in order to teach the words of God to us – regardless of race, disability, age or gender – in order to save us from sins. Christ had even sacrificed his life for our redemption. Likewise, Jesus Christ would want us to reach our hands to even primitive tribes like the Sawi. Because they have not yet confronted with God in their lives, they are falling into the world of sins without even realizing it. To save them from sins and the consequences they would have face on the Judgment Day, Jesus would desire that we, too, should sacrifice our lives and reach out to the people who are in desperate need of God’s powers. When one received, it is time for him to give. Hence, we, as people who found salvation through Jesus Christ, should reach to the Sawi and teach the tribesman about the almighty powers and unconditional love of God. Our sacrifices would not be considered insignificant or foolish but instead be praised as a contribution to the salvation of innocent souls. The most important goal of our lives is to accomplish God’s plans for this world through us. We should live to honor God.

#1 How do I relate to faith? How did Don Richardson relate to faith? How do the Sawi relate to faith?

What is faith? I believe faith is a complete, unconditional reliance on a being or thought that sets priorities and thus guides my life. I have several faiths in my life – in education, love, and, most importantly, God. I base on my life on faith. As I have faith in education, I strive to learn as much as possible because I think that knowledge is power. As I have faith in love, I believe that I am ought to care about people I love with sincerity. As I have faith in God, I try to live according to the teachings of God as written in the Bible. Faith in my life is a guidebook that leads me to right directions. It is the source of my motivation in my life. When faith motivates me to certain directions, I listen to my faith and live toward the directions given by my faith.

Likewise, Don Richardson listened to his faith and challenged himself to live among the primitive tribe called Sawi in order to spread the gospels of God. He had firm faith in God that allowed him to take courage in his decision. Living with a tribe like Sawi is a courageous decision to make because there are dangers that would threaten his life. However, with his ardent faith in God, Don Richardson not only lived with the Sawi tribe but also learned their language and culture in attempt to spread Christianity among the Sawi tribe. He demonstrated his faith through action. He, also, lived according to his faith.

In addition, the Sawi tribesmen also related faith to their lives. Before the arrival of Don Richardson and his wife, they lived according to their values – honoring treachery and practicing cannibalism. Nevertheless, after Don Richardson’s success in implanting passionate faith in God to the Sawi tribe, the tribesmen of Sawi praised the Lord and chose to live differently. The values that they based their lives upon changed and thus their lifestyle also changed. Their new faith in God led them to be transformed.

Hence, it is evident in our lives that faith is something that lead us to certain directions. It is observable that our lives are inevitably based upon faith because faith will motivate us to live our lives in particular ways. Without faith, there is no purpose in life. Only through faith will we breathe and strive to live.

#12 What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

I enjoyed reading Don Richardson’s real life accounts with the Sawi tribe in Iran Jaya, especially because it was full of new ideas and culture that I never encountered with in my life. Although I have read some of fictional work on the culture practiced in such primitive areas, the real incidents in Peace Child were more exciting and fascinating. Prior to reading the book, I had a prejudice that primitive tribes like the Sawi would not have a social structure because they only depended on the physical necessity, according to my naïve opinion. However, I discovered that they are, too, a civilized group of people who value and honor ideas, though they might have different perspectives. I learned through Peace Child that I should attempt to be objective in judging people because I realized that even primitive tribes have values that they base their lives upon. Judging someone with prejudice would only hinder us from seeing the true character of that person.


The only connection I can make with this book is the accounts of the Twelve Disciples, who learned from Jesus Christ about the God’s overwhelming power and love for us. As the Disciples were called to spread the word of God to the end of the world, Don Richardson was also challenged to sacrifice a portion of his life in order to spread the word of God to the primitive tribe called the Sawi. The efforts he made for the Sawi tribe, such as learning the Sawi language and inventing Sawi alphabets, to understand the concepts and values in Christianity are comparable to the contribution made by the Disciples. Don Richardson made a significant stroke in the history of faith. As Don Richardson demonstrated his faith through his actions, the missionaries around the world should also be encouraged and challenged to take risks in order to prove their faith.

#5 What should society do for 'uncivilized cultures' like the Sawi?

The world is becoming westernized. It seems that many western values are being assimilated and become part of cultures in many parts of the world, which is why many primitive tribes are encountering a danger of extinction. In the world that western ideas dominate, values of the primitive tribes are struggling to survive because of the decreasing number of tribe population. Many tribesmen are choosing to become part of the westernized world. It is a logical decision to make for the tribesmen, in terms of survival, because only fittest would survive among the weak. However, the cultures that these tribes preserved until today are historical evidences of human development. Therefore, the existence of the primitive tribes has significant importance. Thus, as ‘civilized’ members of ‘civilized’ society, people should not neglect the presence of the tribes, but instead they are ought to search for a way for the tribes to coexist with the rest of the world.

The only way to the coexistence is interest. If the society takes more interests in and cares for the primitive tribes, the tribes would survive. As tribes are living in primitive regions, they are in desperate need of many things. Thus, the primitive tribes are considerably undeveloped, especially in medicine. Hence, members of the tribes have high infant immortality rate and short life expectancy, which lead to decrease in population. In order to prevent further damage to the tribes, the society should provide the tribes with necessary aids so that the requirements for existence of the tribes are satisfied.

However, coexistence should not be domination of the strong over the weak. The society should never enforce the tribes to embrace its values. The society we live in today is the product of the tribes’ existence. Without the tribes, we may not live the way we live our lives today. Thus, we should appreciate the presence of the tribes and cooperate in order to create a world of coexistence.

#9 What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

In the world we live in today, generally and dominantly, people honor generosity and service to others. The world honors the spirit of Good Samaritan, which is the spirit of offering hospitality to even a stranger. Thus, as a member of this world, I also appreciate and honor philanthropy. As I appreciate philanthropy, I consider selfish and immoral actions as dishonor.

As I was reading Don Richardson’s ‘Peace Child,’ I discovered that tribesmen of Sawi honors treachery. My first reaction was confusion. I simply could not understand how treachery can be honored. Then, the idea of honoring treachery frustrated me because it is absolutely unethical. Treachery is betraying someone who trusted you and doing damage to him. How can a ‘tribe’ honor treachery when they live as a group? How is it possible to have a group life when treachery is honored? I imagined that Sawi people do not form strong bond between each member. As each member of Sawi tribe would live with a fear that someone would betray them, there will not be a socialization or communication. Therefore, there will not be an exchange of ideas, which is why the Sawi tribe did not see beyond their territory and hence limited themselves in the primitive regions. Furthermore, I realized that the Sawi tribe practiced cannibalism, which, to me, was horrifying because eating an individual of the same species made no sense to me. I could not see how their morals could let these people eat humans.

Throughout the story, these two concepts I encountered with surprised and confused me. Although discovering these unpleasant concepts was uneasy, I learned that there are different perspectives in this world and that I must understand the difference since everyone has different background.

#3 What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?

Most people tend to search for things that are similar and familiar to them. When encountered with what seems contradictory to them, many people react with dislike and disapproval. Although this reaction seems natural, we should not react in such manner because it will only cause conflicts. Therefore, we should not be afraid of the difference, but instead we should search for a common ground and learn from the differences. No one was created to be perfect; hence, no one has the right to claim that one is better than others.

Then a question arises in our minds – what can we do to find similarities between the two? Many would argue that it is impossible to find a common ground since the ideas that the two have are distinctly contradictory. However, I believe that it is possible to place ourselves in their shoes, and vice versa, because we are all humans and thus should share some similarities, for instance, feelings. The way to explore the differences and similarities is through communication. We should try to communicate with them humbly. As their ideas and values are also unique, we should never think our ideas and values are superior to theirs. That way, although it would take patience and time, we would eventually discover similarities. Then, we would be able to understand the reason and purpose of the ideas, which once were considered unrighteous and contradictory.

When we encounter with new people, ideas, faiths, and cultures, we should always search for a ground zero. In other words, examining the fundamental cornerstone of the unfamiliar would eventually lead us to understand the unfamiliar. Hence, we are ought to react with humility when confronted with the unfamiliar.

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors

I believe that the culture in which we live in affects the way we live our life. For me, I was born and raised in Korea for more than 12 years. During this time period, the Korean culture had permeated and soon became the basis of my beliefs, values, attitude, and, in a bigger scope, life. Hence, my identity as Korean had established. However, I also lived in other countries, where very different, unique cultures existed. I lived in the U.S., Scotland and Singapore, where I confronted with many unfamiliar cultures and values. These experiences influenced my life as it provided me with a chance to encounter with diversity of different, unique cultures that agreed and disagreed with my standpoint. As I was at a stage of adolescence, I was flexible in accepting new ideas and beliefs. Thus, I broadened my perspective and allowed new cultures to coexist with my Korean culture. Although different aspects of other cultures became part of my identity, Korean culture still remains dominant among the rest.

The way I lived my life was to be humble and be optimistic. That way, I can adapt to new ideas and incorporate them with the ideas I originally had in order to expand my thoughts. As I learned to accept and understand other different ideas, I tend to observe other religions objectively and try to learn from their good teachings that apply for my life. However, in the center of my heart is Christianity, dominating the rest, as Korean culture is dominant among other pieces of cultures that exist in me. I have my faith in Christianity but I also learn from other religions.

I do not necessarily have a native culture because it is a combination of different cultures. However, it certainly allowed me to see the world differently and thus affected my life. The culture I represent widened my scope of understanding and led me to look at other religions as well as Christianity.

#8 What do mission organizations do for these people?

Missionary organizations are not only dedicated in spreading the gospels of Jesus Christ to the primitive tribes but also in directing change required in order for the tribesmen to survive through the indifference of the world. The missionaries feel sympathy toward those who are a few steps behind the modern society and thus devote their lives to assisting the tribes in primitive areas. They provide food, shelter, clothing, medicine and education in order to express their care for the tribes. While doing so, the missionaries preach the words of God and prove them through actions. Some missionaries were successful in living among the tribesmen and evangelizing them. On the other hand, some other unfortunate missionaries failed to do so and thus were expelled or killed. Nevertheless, the true, sincere hearts of the missionaries, determined to serve for human kind and for God, urge other hearts to do service toward the people who suffer and have not yet confronted with God.

However, to some proportion of people, the successes of missionaries evangelizing the tribes are only seen as the destruction of the local cultures. Notwithstanding the fact that the missionaries have invested their lives for evangelism, they forced the tribes to live the way the Western society sees adequate, according to those who oppose to mission organizations. Therefore, they argue that missionaries are not preserving the traditional heritage in local areas but attempt stubbornly to convert the tribesmen into followers of God.

In my opinion, I do understand both standpoints on this issue and their foundation basis. I do see that the traditional heritage and culture of the primitive tribes had been disappearing with the missionaries appeared to them. However, the reason being is that the tribesmen have been imitating the way missionaries lived their lives in order to obtain favorable traits required for survival. In the world we live in today, tradition is maintained but not emphasized as strongly as it did in the history. It is almost visible to bare eyes that the world is becoming globalized and tradition is being put aside. We, too, allowed our cultures to be ‘destroyed.’ It is inevitable that, for survival, we acquire favorable characteristics from elsewhere. Hence, change occurs and thus our cultures and traditions are not conserved. Then, what is the point in accusing the missionaries for destroying the cultures of the tribes in the areas that we have not even heard about? After all, we, as civilized citizens, also have forgotten and disregard our own cultures. Then, why are we not blaming ourselves for destroying our own cultures? Instead of accusing and holding the missionaries accountable for destroying the cultures of the primitive tribes, it would be wise, for those who do not appreciate the work of the missionaries, to reflect upon the nature of human beings. That way, the work of the missionaries may not be accepted but will be understood.