One of the problems I’ve faced recently with being multicultural, besides the cultural identity issue, is of a religious issue. I don’t know who or what to believe in. Because of my mixed background I don’t know where to put my faith, if it’s okay to have faith in more than one religion, or whether I should just let go of any faith whatsoever.
Not till this past winter holiday with the family did it hit me on how multicultural we all are. I have Japanese roots on my father’s side along with Trinidadian and Venezuelan roots on my mother’s side, which my cousin shares. But he too is multicultural in his own right, for he has Uruguayan mix in his blood but has spent almost all his life growing up in New York City. His stepfather, one who I endearingly call my uncle, is a white man with southern roots from Louisiana. He too is multicultural in his own right since he has spent his life traveling abroad to many different countries across the globe in the span of over three decades. These differences that we all have is what brings us closer together, I feel. On the other hand, when it all comes down to religious belief or religious celebration, my mother, cousin, uncle--they all have one faith to look forward to; however, I would always feel torn, having trouble finding faith in more than one religion.
Being an offspring of a Buddhist father and a Roman Catholic mother never had much of an affect on me while growing up. My father was Buddhist (his family Buddhist as well) but we never paid a visit to the temple nor did we celebrate any big Asian or Japanese holiday except for the universal New Years. I was never baptized (still not) but I’ve always celebrated the Christmas holiday. We all celebrated the Catholic holidays--Christmas, Three Kings Day, Easter, etc., including my Buddhist father but I was never taught the true meaning behind those religious days.
Although, I did happen to attend my first Christmas mass with my mother and a couple of Japanese friends of mine on Christmas Eve. The entire time the patrons stood above their pews to sing in the grand house, I would always drift into my thoughts contemplating whether I’m truly agnostic, atheist, or simply lost.
