Religion and culture are distinct things, though telling the difference can be hard sometimes. We discuss a few things from food to clothing to holidays on how different cultures participate in religions.
Takeaways:
- Culture and Religion are not the same but they definitely influence each other.
- All religions have adopted cultural norms to some degree to make practicing easier.
- What is culture? Culture is food, art, celebrations, use of language, dress.
- Culture influences the way people of the same religious group celebrate a holiday.
- Some holidays are celebrated bigger in one country than another (like Hanukkah in the US vs Israel), or sometimes a holiday won’t be celebrated in one culture at all, despite a common religion (like Three Kings Day in Spanish-speaking countries vs. the US).
- Getting out there and experiencing different cultures allows us to appreciate new perspectives.
- An example of Religion vs. Culture is the food eaten on Jewish Passover between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.
- The hijab is religious, but the interpretation of how much head/neck/body must be covered is cultural.
- It’s easy to judge others who appear “backwards” from you, but remember your people were likely there once too.
- People born into a cult really don’t know any different. By contrast, some people do choose to live in a strict religion.
- Be open to the answers you receive from another person. Don’t seek out answers to back up your preconceived thoughts. Ask from a place of true curiosity.
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