Do you think your culture influences the way you see your religion?

Question

If yes, how?

Answer 1

yes, it does, but only forms a persons opinion and basic foundation.
I was raised by an athiest mother. and became a born again believer in high school despite her free will or instead of it.
i diligently studied the christian bible and believed everything i was ever taught, if i had grown up in a muslim country I wouldve been forced to believe in Islam.
but because i was born in western civilization christianity is the greatest influence so i believed in it, instead.
but after i grew up, i realized, that there was so much ambiguity and controversy, that i spent most of my adult life studying religion and re-programmed my beliefs and values.
I think i chose the right ones, but even still i became dissilusioned with all.

So yes culture influences everything but diligent study can change everything as well. so culture can be ignored but only after experience and wisdom.

Dont get me wrong! I know there is a God, I just dont believe traditional christianity, or judaism or Islam has the perfect truth nor do i believe God sustains them all except in everyones righteousness.

Answer 2

Not really. My culture, of being a white caucasian American woman, encourages critical thinking and education. Therefore, I am as educated as I can possibly be about Islam, my religion of choice. I have often been given the compliment of knowing more about my religion than many born muslims, and this is coming from unbiased Imams. For example, my Palestinian step brother in law argued with me when I was pregnant that I absolutely had to fast in Ramadan no matter what. I kept pointing out that the Quran says within itself that if it is too hard or if you are pregnant, it's not necessary if you can't do it. He would not listen to me, even though I kept quoting the verse. He got heated up and I hung up on him so I wouldn't say something I would regret. An hour later he called me back and apologized, then told me I was right. I was 22 at the time, and he was 43.

I think my culture influences my religion only in the way of really studying it. We don't really trust something here until we know as much about it as we possibly can. As far as daily life, no, culture does not influence me.

Answer 3

I was raised with a true faith. Because of this my religion influences the way I see the culture, and not the other way around. God is transcendent and above these worldly things. We must see Him in a True Light.

John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God.

"Let there be Light"

1:2. The same was in the beginning with God.

1:3. All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.

1:4. In him was life: and the life was the light of men.

1:5. And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Answer 4

Yes, to a point, but your religion changes the way you see your culture more. Scientists call religion a world view because religion tends to be the lens through which we see the rest of the world. It is common for many Christians to define the world in terms of sin and goodness, where people of other religions don't even believe in sin. People of earth-based religions tend to actually be offended when someone litters or does something particularly wasteful when many people of other faiths wouldn't even notice. We use everything in our lives to evaluate and make judgements about our world, culture and religion are taught to us from infancy and tend to both be a big part of that (sometimes they are even the same).

Answer 5

Nope, not in the least.

I'm not a fan of no fault divorce, which is a cultural thing.

I'm not a fan of arbitrarily sending homosexuls hell, which is a culturally religious thing.

Hence I don't let contemporary views influence my thinking. I derive my thinking from the way Jesus operated and CHANGE my thinking as I have REVELATIONS about what Jesus was think or do.

Answer 6

Defines the parameters of perception;
Anyones upbringing has some role in how they see things. I don't think it necessarily dictates the way you see your Religion, since it may define what you later decide to rebel against. It may do almost anything.
Its the old story of Nature, nurture and etc ... who can say what might be the end result of any influence....

Answer 7

Of course. My religion is my culture and my culture is my religion. I am a traditionalist Anglo-Catholic. I see my religion through the eyes of one who was raised in the ways of my church, which includes the Book of Common Prayer. The book is "Common" - because it was designed for use BY my culture, FOR my culture and IN my culture.

Answer 8

of course, ones culture and surroundings influence every aspect of their life, and every person will have a different outlook on any subject, including religion.

everyone has parts of their religion they may not fully believe, and parts of other religions that they agree with, theres nothing wrong with that.

its when one believes that their life is in the control of a higher force, and that they have no say in its events, that religion becomes a negative thing. it inhibits them from doing what they are truly capable of.

Answer 9

Our culture influences the way we see everything.

Answer 10

Obviously. For example American culture accepts evangelical Christians whereas British culture dismisses them as certifiable lunatics.