Identity by community

Identity formed by community, when one is raised in a particular society are they attached to that society? We mentioned this in class very quickly, I think this is not necessarily true. Looking at a major figure in Christianity, St. Francis. St. Francis' came from a family of wealth, yet didn't attach himself to a materialist life, he went the complete opposite direction. He gave it all away, to the point of being naked in front of his father. St. Francis' was raise to know a particular life, yet didn't end up being identified by that community. I guess in a way that is still bringing on part of his identity, by rejecting his families way of life. Therefore found his own identity in that. It would still be a rejecting of the initial community ideals. It is an interesting concept to think that the rejection of ideals could still be considered a forming of your identity. The identity in question is your adult identity. Who you are and what you stand for as an adult. Rejecting what your community stands for to stand for the opposite or even something different can be how your identity is partially formed. I think it really comes down to personal choice of response to what your community and the world at large presents you. Responding to what to stand for is on each person, the community being a major influence but not a thing that gives a person their identity.