Now cancer-free, the 23-year-old wants to highlight the lack of awareness and dangerous taboos about cancer that still exist in some minority communities.
She says that when she revealed her devastating diagnosis, elder members of her black Christian community told her to shun the advice of doctors and ‘leave it to God, he will heal you.
The gymnastics teacher, from Hampton, London, wants people to understand the dangers associated with not being able to talk about cancer, and how outdated taboos are putting lives at risk.
She says ethnic minorities face additional challenges when going through cancer treatment because of cultural taboos.
‘I am a Christian, however, I believe that my relationship with God is personal and between myself and God,’ explains Angel. ‘Whatever I choose to do everyone else will have to understand.
She adds that the black Christian community needs to be more accepting and mindful of the mental impact a cancer diagnosis can have.
Chiu told NBC News on Monday that the colliding dynamics of her family’s Chinese cultural background and her conservative Christian upbringing proved to be a “double whammy” in processing the alleged assault, in which she says the film mogul attacked her during the 1998 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
“Then also being Christian, you are also conventional on your beliefs about sexuality and so on, so forth.”
Chiu, who did not reveal any details surrounding the alleged abuse to her loved ones for decades, explained she had grown up outside London in a predominantly white area and joined a Chinese Christian youth group in her teen years.
It stood in stark contrast to the film industry, where sexual assault was rampant and sex wasn’t a taboo topic, she said.
There’s levels of taboo, if you’re not even talking about sex between married people.”
Oftentimes, Asian Christian churches in the West serve not only as places of worship, but also crucial social networks for immigrants who feel racially marginalized or may have difficulty finding a welcoming community in “a white-dominant country,” she said.
Ultimately, as Chiu says, “climbing through those layers of taboo as a young person seems insurmountable.
“If they could center the idea that sin includes patriarchy and for them to embrace the ideas of feminism into their Christian theology, I think we would be living in a different world,” she said.
In the entire Benin Kingdom and other parts of Edo State, it is a taboo for a woman who is traditionally married to a man, to engage in extra-marital affairs with other men.
It is regarded as a taboo, with grave consequences.
The majority of girls and young women who spoke on the taboo said they would rather decline a marriage offer than take the oath.
I am a Christian, if he doesn’t trust me enough, let it be.
Speaking to the Magazine on the issue, Mr. Kenneth Iguisi, a traditional Benin man, said it is a taboo, a serious and dangerous thing for a woman married to a Benin man to have affairs with other men.
He said: “In the entire Benin Kingdom, it is a taboo for a woman that is properly married to a man, especially in the traditional way, to engage in extramarital affairs.
When such deadly repercussions begin to occur, the woman has to confess and there are rituals and sacrifices that must be performed to cleanse the taboo.
Iguisi is, however, of the opinion that the taboo is no longer revered as it was in the past, and so, it no longer deters modern-day women from marital infidelity.
But today, it is believed that because of Christianity, women no longer have fear for such tradition anymore.
No, I was not, because the family I got married to are Christians and I did traditional and court marriages.
As a Christian, no, I won’t.
He told our correspondent the Christians’ view of adultery quite differs from the view held by traditionalists.
“Adultery itself is a sin, whether you are a Christian or not, it’s a sin.
Christianity abhors adultery.
But the way Christianity sees it is different from the way traditionalists handle it.
That is true because, I’ve seen something like that in my village, even before I became Christian.
However, many are of the opinion that the advent of Christianity appears to have mitigated the effect of the tradition, as women no longer see it as something to be respected or be in fear of it.
The situation of the Iraqi LGBTQ community is tenuous, and violence is a very real possibility and can erupt at any time against communities that are deemed fringe or taboo
LGBT rights are non-existent in Iraq, where homosexuality, transgenderism, and cross dressing are highly taboo among Muslims and minority Christians alike.
The raising of the flag was an “attack on all People of the Book, not just Muslims”, he added, referring to Christians and Jews.
This demonstrates how the situation of the Iraqi LGBTQ community is tenuous, and violence is a very real possibility and can erupt at any time against communities that are deemed fringe or taboo.
Immersion in cleansing baths is part of Orthodox Jewish menstruation rituals , while some Christian church fathers defend the exclusion of women from ministry reasoned on the premise of uncleanness .
Many regard menstruation as the “ultimate taboo” .
But just who were these two third-century guardian angels of all things thespian? Well, St Genesius was a comedic performer, known for his farcical interpretations of Christian practices.
One day, while making fun of the ritual of baptism while on stage – in front of Roman Emperor Diocletian, no less – Genesius experienced a ‘revelation’ and thereafter converted to Christianity.
Unfortunately for him, Diocletian just happened to be a persecutor of Christianity.
Far from finding himself in Diocletian’s good books, once Vitus ‘came out’ as a Christian he was boiled like an egg in a repository of boiling water.
What about taboos? Well, whatever you do, don’t whistle in the theatre! At one time, many sailors would be employed in the theatre, due to their rope – rigging – skills and expertise with knots.
Who said that health and safety regulations are a plague of the modern world? It seems that theatre-land had it all worked out many moons ago! Another taboo is giving flowers before a performance – this is thought to be tempting fate.
Transgender taboos: Don’t question … or else
Here’s a fun fact: the word “taboo” came to the English language from natives on what is now the nation of Tonga.
When he asked why, they replied these things were “taboo,” which meant “consecrated, inviolable, forbidden, unclean or cursed.”
Now in English parlance today, we tend to use the word “taboo” as a figure of speech or hyperbole.
A recent article in Canada’s National Post identified something it called the “new taboo.” It’s off-limits to even talk about the increasing number of people who, having undergone gender-reassignment surgery, now not only regret their decision, they want to reverse the procedure.
Why then are these disaster stories so rarely heard? Because they are taboo.
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The very same article told readers about allegations that Bath Spa University in England turned down “an application for research on gender reassignment reversal” because the project was deemed ‘potentially politically incorrect. ’” Or perhaps a more accurate word would be the one chosen by the National Post: “taboo.”
The author deserves our pity, but the decision to run the article without even questioning what on earth is going on, is the very definition of something being “taboo.” Questioning the sacredness and inviolability of the desire to transition invites the digital equivalent of the wrath of the gods that ancient Polynesian feared for violating taboos.
Singal and the Atlantic violated the taboo, and they were digitally stoned for it.
In fact, this cultural taboo is so strong, it can cost parents custody of their children.
Recently, a Christian family in Ohio lost custody of their 17-year-old son because he wanted to begin hormone therapy.
This is taboo in action.
Western civilization, which has been predominantly Christian, has a history of menstrual taboos.
Some Christian denominations, including many authorities of the Eastern Orthodox Church and some parts of the Oriental Orthodox Church advise women not to receive communion during their menstrual period.
In some portions of South Asia, there is a menstrual taboo, with it frequently being considered impure.
In the whole uproar over Sabarimala, the issue being tom-tommed by pseudo liberals is Women’s rights – gender equality, and especially the whole taboo surrounding menstruation – and all of it is nothing but a distortion, and concoction, where the narrative is being twisted to suit the agenda of certain vested interests.
Today hardly anybody performs this ceremony for their daughters, because we were taught by those who came from outside that it is taboo, and shameful.
This is not an Islamic issue alone, though there are clear differences in the levels of threats and intimidation against people who leave Christianity in Europe.
I know of Christians who have left their faith and converted to Islam who talk of pressures from their families, and where some have had their immediate family stop all communication, sometimes for decades.
Apart from the fact that her courage has shown many people that they can take charge of their life and their destinies, Rahaf has highlighted something that is still taboo to raise in the Middle East – that people can choose to leave faith behind and make active choices about what they do and do not believe in.
I welcomed the highest-level delegation of U.S. evangelical Christian leaders ever to visit Saudi Arabia.
For me, it is naturally about fulfilling my mandate as head of an international, non-governmental organization dedicated to presenting the unadulterated and tolerant principles of Islam, and extending bridges of dialogue and cooperation with all of Allah’s children—be they Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, or adherents of any other community.
That is why I proposed an interfaith peace convoy to Jerusalem, comprised of the great men and women of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, representing our common Abrahamic heritage.
“In Aramoko-Ekiti, it is a taboo for anybody to parade the streets with a bunch of plantain, it must be in pieces.
Though I am a Muslim, I am well versed in the Bible and Christian doctrines.
Christian the way a Christian should be treated, same for Muslims and even the free thinkers.
Ojo listed the aims and objectives of the festival to include, “achieving the capacity of the community for sustainable entrepreneurial activities and economic empowerment in the culture and tourism sector; creating avenues for social interaction through organised entertainment modes and encouraging economic and business growth both in Aramoko and neighbouring towns.”Christians arent immune to depression and suicide.
Christians go through many battles and some of these can be the struggle with mental health issues/illness, said Isis Wellman, a certified addictions and clinical mental health counsellor.
Ms Wellman, who has 15 years experience in the field, said the subject is taboo in every church denomination.
Dealing with grief, chronic stress, financial issues, life transitions, divorce, bullying, physical/ health ailments, chronic pain or a host of other life challenges can all have an impact on a Christians relationship with God, she added.
As Christians we will have moments where our faith will be tested and because of this we might lose hope.
The better equipped our church leaders and members are in recognising their feelings, being able to reach out for help, and offering support and guidance, the more our church members will feel comfortable in understanding that going through these battles are part of a journey and not the end of our Christian walk.
She also hopes to see more Christians register for a mental health course offered by Bermuda Hospitals Board psychologists Aisha Basden and Cherita Raynor.
According to The New School website, there are four religiously-affiliated student groups at the university, which are the only Student Activity Finance Committee sponsored religious organizations on campus: Ecclesia Christian Ministry, The Jewish Culture Club, Encounter Christian Fellowship, and Remnant Christian Fellowship.
She said there is a taboo against talking about religion and spirituality on campus.
But the taboo on talking about religion forces some students to choose between pride in their faith and the assumption of political or social beliefs imposed by the Lang community.
One of the four religious groups on campus is the Ecclesia Christian Ministry.
ECM is a traditional Christian student group that holds a weekly bible study for both undergraduate and graduate students.
“I became a Christian in my undergraduate years through a campus ministry; It has made a world of difference in my life to have God and the fellowship encouraging me.
Homosexuality is taboo in the East African nation and persecution of sexual minorities is rife.
Campaigners say the laws have long promoted homophobia in the largely conservative Christian country – and are used daily to persecute and discriminate against sexual minorities.
The Kenyan government, backed by powerful Christian groups, however is opposed to scrapping the ban on gay sex, have argued during court hearings last year that it will lead to same-sex marriage.
Same-sex relationships are considered taboo and are a crime across most of the continent, with punishments ranging from imprisonment to death.
“I am a literal believer in Jesus,” Washburn says, while recognizing that Christianity “got a lot of its practices from Judaism.
Christians celebrate a holy week, culminating in Easter Sunday’s ritual remembering of their Savior’s triumph over the grave.
After all, the original Christians were Jesus-believing Jews, who saw the Last Supper described in the New Testament as a Passover seder.
In contrast, Easter assures the individual Christian life eternal.”
“I would never proselytize,” Stephen says, “but I do talk about my Christian perspective and share how I feel.
Many of these marriages are between a Christian and a religiously unaffiliated spouse, the report said.
Then she converted to Judaism, but retains deep ties to her Christian clan.
When his marriage ended in divorce in 2009, his Christian faith was a rock.
After they married, she kept her menorahs on the main floor, Stephen quips, while she made “the Christian” carry his crosses to the basement wine cellar.
In the end, though, April could never be a Christian.
“It’s just live and let live.”In the 1800s, a chief in the South Pacific archipelago of Samoa sought medical aid from a Christian missionary stationed there.
Christian missionaries, when they came to the archipelago, never caught on to the rite’s religious dimension, so they didn’t perceive it as a direct threat to their churches.
As a result of tattoo taboos, some Samoans risked fines or banishment for getting inked.
As a result of these varied factors, Samoans held on to tatau even as they broadly adopted Christianity.
In fact, some Christian leaders now embrace tattooing.
Family and domestic violence is a taboo topic
We conducted interviews and focus groups with Anglican, Evangelical and Christian , Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Jewish leaders and community members.
In our interviews, participants often described FDV as being a taboo topic.
Let’s agree on one thing, choosing not to fast should not be a societal taboo.
In fact, a few years ago, there were calls on social media for Christians and non-fasting Muslims to not ‘hurt the feelings of those fasting’ with eating or drinking, which, in my opinion, is a ridiculous thing to ask people to do.
In fact, even just mentioning the menstrual cycle is a huge taboo in the Middle East.
But each week, many Christians go to church, go to small group, or have quiet time with the Bible in one hand and a stimulant in the other.
How should a Christian respond to drugs like caffeine or cannabis that blur the line between nature, medicine, and vice?
Douglas Estes, a biblical scholar and associate professor at South University, recently talked with Wheaton neuroscientist William Struthers about how drugs that were once taboo now have a medical pathway to legalization and how Christians can start wise conversations today about drugs, healing, and faith.
For drugs, or any chemical, it’s not uncommon for them to start out as taboos if they don’t already exist in a culture where they are embraced.
But there are some communities where the drinking of tea and caffeinated beverages is a taboo.
Cannabis started out as a taboo: “We don’t smoke pot.”
If you’ve moved beyond the drug being a taboo, more often than not, you’re moving into it being understood as having some sort of therapeutic or medical or healing properties.
A Christian vision for healing should be all-encompassing.
A Christian has a wider view of what health looks like; they will be able to incorporate that medical information into an understanding of who they are and what they are made for.
We need to have a discussion as a Christian community to get greater clarity on these issues.
Decisions like these have to be done in communities that value searching the Scriptures to understand what Christlikeness looks like, to discover the principles that should govern what a faithful Christian life looks like—going it alone is not a good idea.
The text of this article was generated by the Breaking The Silence system that collected 19 news articles posted on the web from January 2019 to September 2020 and clustered for the taboo subjects related to the christian religion
