You are on page 1of 2

AHMAD SEBTAN KHAN

CULTURE AND RELIGION


THESIS STATEMENT
Religion is set of beliefs, cultural values, divine texts, spiritual
elements and a bond between supernatural powers which also influences behavior and everyday
practices of human; while culture consists of social behavior, social norms, arts, laws and beliefs
of society. Although culture and religion have some similarities but religion has great influence
on culture through some particular Religious habits and beliefs which may influence all the
society, region or nation. Religion and culture cannot be separated from each-others.

INTRODUCTION
There are more than 4000 religions in all over the world having
seven major religions while Christianity is most followed religion and Islam is second mostly
followed religion. Similarly, 3800 cultures are believed to exist across the globe. Religion and
culture are so much interlinked that they actually co-exist and cannot be separated completely
from each other. Religion got its importance post 9/11 attacks on world trade center by Al-Qaida
in international politics in modern world. Religion not only influence culture but also the way of
living and psychology of an individual. History tells that whether it was old Greeks, Emergence
of Roman Empire and Advent of Islam Religion highly influenced the culture and nations round
the globe.

CAN RELIGION BE SEPARATED FROM CULTURE?

Although Religion and Culture and their co-existence is still in debate but there are two types of
people or thoughts one says the religion and culture are different from each other and advocate
their stance through the theoretical definitions of religion and culture separately and convince
other by saying that there are some states where religion has nothing to do with culture such as
atheist states and modern European states. On contrary the realist advocates their stance by
historical events such as idea of ethnos by Greek philosophers, the cultural transformation of
Roman Empire by adopting Christianity and by spreading of Islam which not only turned the
barbers of Arabs deserts to the most civilized people in world but also highly impacted the
cultural and educational transformation of Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle east.
AHMAD SEBTAN KHAN
CONCLUSION
Whether it was beginning of human civilization and cultures in world or it
is modern world Religion has greatly affected and transformed almost every culture of world.
Currently the idea of Islamophobia and propaganda of relating Islam with terrorism is living
evidence of Religious and cultural co-existence and diffusion. Therefore, Religion and Culture
being so much interlinked and influenced by each other cannot be separated by each-others.

REFERENCES

 Religion and culture: Revisiting a close relative Jaco BeyersI, II

 Published online: 25 January 2017


 https://study.com/academy/lesson/how-religion-contributes-to-cultural-
change.html#:~:text=Lesson%20Summary-,Religion%20can%20influence%20the
%20culture%20of%20an%20entire%20community%2C%20nation,and%20scientific
%20advances%20are%20made
 https://isaccurate.com/blog/cultures-around-the-world#:~:text=How%20Many
%20Different%20Cultures%20Are,their%20unique%20system%20of%20beliefs

 https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.166
 Antony, M. G. (2010). On the spot: Seeking acceptance and expressing
resistance through the Bindi. Journal of International and Intercultural
Communication, 3, 346–368.
 Beckford, J. A., & Demerath, N. J. (Eds.). (2007). The SAGE handbook of the
sociology of religion. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
 Burrell, D. B. (2013). The triumph of mercy: Philosophy and scripture in Mulla
Sadra—By Mohammed Rustom. Modern Theology, 29, 413–416.

You might also like