Questions to focus on: Shame Cultures

These questions can be used at different levels. You can take 30 seconds to think about one or two. You can discuss them in a team or group of like-minded Christians. Or they can be used in a college class, including assignments and research projects, and answered in writing at any depth. They may be freely reproduced for this purpose. Please email us additional questions that could be added to this page.
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  1. Read Genesis 25 to the end. Which incidents clearly demonstrate a shame culture in operation?
  2. Discuss issues involving "loss of face" as they relate to politics and social affairs in the Middle East.
  3. What is the difference between a sense of sinfulness and shame?
  4. How can a sense of shame lead to salvation?
  5. Discuss Isaiah 53 where is says that Jesus bore our shame as well as our sin. Is there a difference?
  6. Discuss the issue of healing from shame for those who have suffered hidden sexual abuse in childhood.
  7. In many countries, great shame is brought on the family unit if one member leaves the family religion. And national identity and religious identity are so closely tied together that a convert is seen as a traitor. What are the problems facing a convert in such situations?