Preparation:
Read the following article: "Storm in an Andean teacup" https://www.economist.com/node/17967082
Read the section titled "UN Decriminalizes the Coca Leaf" of this article: "Bolivia: UN Decriminalizes Coca Leaf" https://www.pulsamerica.co.uk/2013/01/14/bolivia-un-decriminalizes-acullico/
Prompt:
Give your opinion on the controversy in 3 well-developed paragraphs. The opinion must be supported with Scripture, personal experience, and cultural understanding.
Paragraph 1: State and support your opinion-Is it right or moral to use the coca leaves as they are a 3000-year-old tradition with no known side effects? Why or why not? Be sure to consider the tension between preventing worldwide drug use (since the crop has become more widely used for cocaine than for other health benefits such as easing altitude sickness) and maintaining cultural values. Support your opinion with Scripture and personal experience if applicable.
Paragraph 2: Discuss the importance of tradition (such as coca leaves) and language to a culture. Is there any correlation between culture and learning a language? Explain.
Paragraph 3: When missionaries work with cultures that have practices that oppose their biblical beliefs, how should they respond? How do Christian values and cultural values intersect?