Cross-cultural helping is described as “experiential, freewheeling, and bilateral.” Explain what this means in relation to the provider and the client’s experience.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Understanding Cross-Cultural Helping: Experiential, Freewheeling, and Bilateral Dynamics
Thesis Statement: The description of cross-cultural helping as “experiential, freewheeling, and bilateral” encapsulates the interactive and dynamic nature of the provider and client’s experiences, emphasizing the reciprocal and unscripted nature of cross-cultural assistance.
Introduction
Cross-cultural helping encompasses a range of interactions and interventions aimed at supporting individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The characterization of cross-cultural helping as “experiential, freewheeling, and bilateral” underscores the nuanced and interactive nature of the provider and client’s experiences. This essay seeks to elucidate the implications of these descriptors in relation to the dynamics between the provider and the client in cross-cultural helping contexts.
Experiential Nature of Cross-Cultural Helping
The descriptor “experiential” highlights the immersive and participatory nature of cross-cultural helping. Providers engage in firsthand experiences that transcend mere theoretical or abstract understandings of cultural differences. This involves actively participating in the client’s cultural context, gaining insights through direct engagement, and learning from the lived experiences of the individuals being assisted.
For the client, the experiential aspect signifies a form of assistance that is rooted in real-life encounters and tangible interactions, allowing for a deeper level of engagement that goes beyond conventional service provision. Clients are active participants in the process, contributing their unique perspectives and experiences to the helping dynamic.
Freewheeling Nature of Cross-Cultural Helping
The term “freewheeling” conveys the dynamic, adaptable, and flexible nature of cross-cultural assistance. It suggests that interactions are not constrained by rigid protocols or predetermined pathways, but rather unfold organically based on the evolving needs, preferences, and cultural nuances of both the provider and the client.
Providers engage in freewheeling interactions by approaching each cross-cultural encounter with openness, adaptability, and a willingness to navigate unforeseen challenges or cultural differences. This fluid approach allows for responsive and contextually sensitive assistance that is attuned to the specific cultural dynamics at play.
Similarly, clients experience a freewheeling form of support that respects their cultural values, beliefs, and unique circumstances. This approach fosters a sense of agency and autonomy for clients, as they actively shape the trajectory of the helping process in ways that align with their cultural contexts and individual preferences.
Bilateral Dynamics of Cross-Cultural Helping
The descriptor “bilateral” underscores the reciprocal and mutual nature of cross-cultural helping. It emphasizes that interactions between providers and clients are characterized by an exchange of perspectives, knowledge, and understanding that flows in both directions. This mutual exchange enriches the experiences of both parties and fosters a collaborative approach to addressing challenges and fostering growth.
For providers, embracing bilateral dynamics involves acknowledging the value of learning from clients, recognizing their expertise in their own cultural contexts, and engaging in a process of mutual learning. This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of diverse cultural perspectives and enhances the effectiveness of the assistance provided.
Clients benefit from bilateral dynamics by actively contributing their insights, experiences, and cultural wisdom to the helping process. This collaborative exchange empowers clients to play an active role in shaping the assistance they receive, ensuring that it is culturally relevant, respectful, and responsive to their unique needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the descriptors “experiential, freewheeling, and bilateral” encapsulate the dynamic and reciprocal nature of cross-cultural helping, emphasizing the interactive and collaborative dynamics between providers and clients. These descriptors underscore the importance of immersive experiences, flexible approaches, and mutual exchange in fostering culturally sensitive and effective assistance. Embracing these characteristics enriches the experiences of both providers and clients, leading to more meaningful and impactful cross-cultural helping interactions.
