Is religion the same as culture?

Answer 1

They're related, but not one and the same. I have a culture, but I'm not religious. In fact, I'm agnostic.

Answer 2

Distinct but inter connected

In the old days religion and culture were so intertwined that those who did not share the religion were suspect of undermining the culture(and society),but now in many places the militant secularists are doing the opposite since for them public acknowledgement of religious feasts or themes or even origns of customs and times draws a treat of lawsuits.

For some who do not practice the religion of their forebears the cultural leftovers are all that is left of the union of culture and religion.
Ethnicity and religion are often very joined and the religious observances are what keep the ethnic culture alive in a diaspora or foreign settlement.

Religious ethics are often countercultural which is one reason why so few religious members zealously apply the ethics of their religion to their lives or economies or societies.

Answer 3

That depends what country you are looking at. In many Islamic countries it is impossible to separate religion from culture because religion has formed the identity and practices of its followers. This is best seen where Sharia law is practiced. Theologians are also politicians and vice versa. The law has to be interpreted theologically. When Mrs Gillian Gibbons was imprisoned in Sudan for allowing little children to name the class teddy-bear Mohammed, loads of people on Yahoo insisted she'd committed a cultural clanger. Not so. She'd commited a religious crime. Unwittingly. Until people understand the theology of Muslims in such countries, they cannot begin to understand their culture.

However, there are secular Islamic countries (like Turkey) where Sharia law is not enshrined. This helps keep culture more separate from religion but because Islam is an entire way of life, the two are still wedded together.

In Britain Christian beliefs (religion) shaped its laws and legal system and the monarch was also head of the State Church. But over the centuries the influence of religion has been dramatically watered down by the influence of secular and materialistic forces. Although the monarch is still head of the State Church, there is virtually no real power exerted there. Thousands of laws have been passed in recent decades that utterly violate Christian principles so it is fair to say British culture is losing most of its religious hues.

Answer 4

Definitely not!

In fact, the culture dominates the religion. All the cultures have their influence on the way religions practiced in the culture.

The good example is of Christianity which was highly influenced by the Roman pagan cultural that made people starting believing that Jesus, son of Mary, was a child of God, All-mighty.

Answer 5

From what I understand, religion is belief in an all powerful creator God. Culture is simply the social environment people are living in. (I think points 3 and 6 in the first link back up part of my answer.) All the best.

Answer 6

Religion does affect culture. However, you can have a culture without religion.

Answer 7

In certain countries of the world, yes.

For example, by law, Saudi Arabia's official religion is Islam; Egypt favors Islam; the Vatican, Italy, by law is European Catholic.

So in countries like that, religion is identical to culture (by law).

Informally used in the United States, the term culture seems to be replacing the word religion, as in book titles which read:

Culturally Incorrect (Rev. Rod Parsley)

Etc.

Answer 8

The culture springs from the faith or the lack of it. Not Not the other way around, so they are related but not the same

Answer 9

religion is a form of culture.

Answer 10

Religion is knowledge that is related to culture. Religion and culture on how we may live our lives.