Kuwaiti Lifestyle Frameworked?
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Reading some more blogs about Kuwait I found the following statement:
“The lifestyle of Kuwait’s society must be understood within a framework of Muslim religion, Arabic tradition and local customs.”
That really made me stop and wonder. Is the lifestyle of society framed in religion? If so, what would be the identity and culture unique to each peoples when religion of any type is simply pressed down and pushed into a society depending on where it is in location, such as in the Middle East.
I suppose that for those who feel the above is true, it must be very worrisome to see change in the youth and hunger for information and certainly to see other “religions” creeping in.
The process of modernisation has made inroads into certain aspects of housing, occupations, dress and handicrafts but other aspects of the Kuwaiti lifestyle have stood the test of time. The changes brought about by the discovery of oil and the subsequent modernisation have not in any way undermined Kuwaiti people’s distinct identity.
The pivot around which everything revolves continues to be the family. The typical, large Kuwaiti family sitting together for a meal is the preferred way to dine. It is a time to relax and enjoy the food with the family, but if a guest joins in, he is warmly welcomed.
So what would happen if revival came to Kuwait and the majority of Kuwaitis were born-again? Would the society of Kuwait be destroyed? I don’t think so. The framework for understanding the people of Kuwait and thus there society would no longer be the “Muslim religion, Arabic tradition and local customs” but would be based on who Kuwaitis are in their heart and their relationships with family and neighbours and of course, most importantly, their relationship with their Creator.