Zaylie Olsen

Project #1
COMM-2150-502-Sp23
OVERVIEW

For this project, I decided to attend a cultural function/meeting of the Islamic faith. I stayed local to

Utah, and found the mosque of the Utah Islamic Center located in Sandy, where I got into contact with

Imam Shuaib Din, who connected me to three females. The three of them wished to remain anonymous

for this paper. The young women and they went over the fundamental beliefs of Islam, as well as their

values for their religion and the importance of what those held not only personally, but as a community

as well. They were all very excited to tell me about what they hold near and dear to their heart, and was

excited that I attended one of their prayers. While looking over the Value Orientation Theory by

Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck, the closeness between some aspects of Islam and my personal beliefs was

surprising. My time and experience with these three women put into perspective the life of the modern

day Islamic woman. My opinion has not changed, I have always been interested in Islam, but it did make

my respect for the Muslim population grow.

RELIGION

I was always interested in Islam while I was growing up. This started because I had two very good

friends, pretty much family members that were Muslim, but they didn’t practice, or dive into their

religion until they were a little bit older. My interest piqued further when my two friends began to

celebrate Ramadan, going to the mosque every Saturday, and changed their diet to fit into the standards

of Islam. The beliefs of Muslims are very straightforward. The Quran gives us exactly what the ideal

Muslim is supposed to be like, gives a step by step guide on how to accomplish this, and their beliefs.

I then reached out to one of the aforementioned friend that is Muslim, and she gave me a deeper

insight into understanding the people of the Quran at the time. In the time of the prophet Mohammad

(P.B.U.H.) many people were pagans worshiping idols and committing evil acts such as killing innocent

people (an example used in the Quran is how the pagans used to kill baby girls because they feared the
Zaylie Olsen
Project #1
COMM-2150-502-Sp23
baby would only bring poverty to them) Islam came and banned this act saying that we should not fear

not having enough and if we trust god, god will provide for us (Al-tigar, J. 2023).

The interesting thing about Islam is that it has never changed from the time of their prophets,

specifically Muhammad; and that the Quran has never been translated since that time either. They take

pride in the fact that Islam has never changed and will never change, it will stay pure. Muslims believe

the same thing that their ancestors did. Specifically: belief in one God, and that the last prophet sent by

Allah was Muhammad (Al-tigar, J. 2023).

RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL FUNCTION

Once I had decided to go to the Utah Islamic Center to witness some of their prayers, I was admittedly

nervous, as well as excited. I walked into the mosque and met with Imam Shuab Din, who introduced me

to three females that would answer any questions that I had regarding Islam.

This mosque was founded in 2007, their mission statement is to “serve the needs of the Muslim

community in Utah.” (Cultural Interview, conducted on February 2, 2023). They recently reconstructed

the Utah Islamic Center in 2020, to better fit the needs of the community with a larger space for both

prayers and gatherings, as well as Sunday school teachings that are held on the lower floors of the

mosque (Cultural Interview, 2023). Since the new construction of the building, they hold open houses

for people who are not Muslim, but a part of the city's community, as well as doing things such as this,

allowing people to learn about Islam. The ladies explained to me that the importance of being a modern

day Muslim and studying Islam, is to stay true to the Quran, and being as warm and welcoming as they

can be and not being judgemental (Cultural Interview, 2023).

In the midst of my visit, the young ladies mentioned that the following day (Saturday), there would be

an open house for members of the city to come and tour the mosque and can answer any questions that

non-muslims may have about the building, or the religion.

Zaylie Olsen
Project #1
COMM-2150-502-Sp23
This tour was an amazing opportunity to be able to experience, because I was able to not only dive into

the beliefs of another religion, but I was able to see the communities interest in wanting to know more

about a separate religion as well. There were many different people there from different religions such

as: different sects of Christians, and Latter-day Saints. The tour lasted about 45 minutes, and made me

smile because others were so respectful.

VALUE THEORY

When having to decide between Hofstede's “Value Orientations” and Kluckholm & Strodbeck's “Value

Orientations” theory, I had to look at the questions for both that would relate back to the religion I

chose, and ultimately decided that Kluckholm & Strodbeck's “Value Orientations” theory helped me gain

the best and even better understanding of Islam.

This “Value Orientations” theory is a bit more difficult. Back in the 1950’s Kluckholm & Strodbeck

studied contemporary Spanish and Navajo descendants. The experts “emphasized the centrality of

cultural values in understanding cultural groups” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, p. 95). Values are deeply

shared by cultural groups and are often the causes of intercultural conflicts. (Martin & Nakayama, 2018).

Kluckholm and Strodbeck developed five questions that members of a culture answer to disclose the

values of said culture. There are three possible answers to each question (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, pp.

97-102).

★ · What is human nature?

■ Viable answers:
● Human nature is fundamentally good.
● Human nature is a combination of good and evil.
● Human nature is essentially evil.
★ · What is the relationship between humans and nature?
■ Viable answers:
● Humans dominate nature.
● Nature dominates humans.
● Humans live in harmony with nature.
★ · What is the relationship between humans?
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Project #1
COMM-2150-502-Sp23
■ Viable answers:
● Individualism- emphasizes the individual over groups.
● Collectivism- emphasizes extended family and group loyalty.
● Collateral- emphasizes connection to other individuals even
after death.
★ · What is the preferred activity?
■ Viable answers:
● Doing Orientation- emphasizes productivity.
● Growing Orientation- emphasizes spiritual aspects of life.
● Being Orientation- emphasizes self-actualization.
★ · What is the orientation toward time?
■ Viable answers:
● Past- an awareness of history contributes to an understanding
of contemporary life.
● Present Orientation- living fully in the moment.
● Future Orientation- planning for the future.

ANALYSIS

When equating my experience with the theories of Kluckholm & Strodbeck, I want to focus on two

major questions: “What is human nature?” and “What is the orientation towards time?”

First, “What is human nature?” Muslims believe that people are fundamentally good, but they recognize

that people make mistakes and are responsible for their own actions, it is not their place to judge

people. This is expressed in their firm belief in the words of the Quran, that has not changed since the

time of Muhammed. While it is not their place to judge people, Muslims do believe that everyone has an

opportunity to make it right. Sin is a part of human nature.

Second, “What is the orientation towards time?” While talking with the three females, they emphasized

the importance of “focusing on your present, because you can use it to build a better future for your

hereafter. Focusing on the past does nothing except allow you to dwell on the negative, it is a waste of

time.” (Cultural Interview, 2023). This showed me the importance of valuing time and focusing on the

important things in life.

REFLECTION
Zaylie Olsen
Project #1
COMM-2150-502-Sp23
Admittedly, this experience was nerve-wracking and thrilling at the same time, but I appreciate the

experience. The Islamic community holds a lot of ideals and values that I hold in my religion as well,

which was a welcomed surprise. This experience showed me that the Muslims of the Quran and the

modern day Muslims are not all that different because they cherish the same values as their ancestors.

Heading into this project with Value Orientation helped me know what I needed to look for in regards to

questioning. It helped me realize that I need to get to know people and now place judgment on them

immediately, this also applies to different cultures and people. I would want people to offer me the

same respect and opportunity, so I need to give that unto others. This project made me go out of my

comfort zone, and as a result I was able to learn more about another religion, another way of life, and

more about who I am and what I want to be as a human being.

WORKS CITED

Al-Tigar, J. (2023, January 13). (Zaylisyanna Olsen, Interviewer).

Cultural Interview. (conducted on February 2, 2023). (Zaylisyanna Olsen, Interviewer).

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2018). Intercultural communication in contexts. (7 th Ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Education