The Relationship Between Religion And Culture

Throughout most of the part in mankind’s history, religion has played a crucial role as central unifying force in culture. Religion is a complex of practices that are based on the premise of the existence of superhuman powers, whether personal or impersonal, that are generally invisible (Riesebrodt M, 2010). English anthropologist Edward Tylor (1871) defined “culture or civilization” as that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a person as a member of society. The most notable reason of religions played such prominent role in defining the culture of a society is the belief or faith in spiritual or divine power can give people a sense of hope and reason for living despite the terrible conditions of affliction. This can be proved by the Hindu-Buddhism, Christian and Islamic societies. All three of these societies have been subjected to varying forms of challenge at some point in their respective histories, and many historians have identified strong religious beliefs are the key for their resiliency.

Religions motivates cultural expression which is seen as fundamental to mankind’s existence and humanity throughout literature. Mankind respond to the impact the world has on their lives and the tensions they may feel between themselves and their surroundings, through altering material forms that reflects meaning such as music, arts and books. Thus, motivation and manifestation of cultural expression reveals the relationship between culture and religion. Religion act as a substantive base that is expressed in culture to show how mankind experience and understand the world. The purpose and meaning they found in religions transpired into the artistic and cultural heritage. The culture that arises from religion has been broadly categorized in four ways: (1) “immovable,” for example ancient places of worship or sites of spiritual significance, (2) “moveable,” such as artifacts used in religious ceremonies with artistic heritage values and are of high quality craftsmanship, (3) “tangible,” such as books and manuscripts of holy texts or music, and (4) “intangible,” which takes the form of various traditions, orally transferred knowledge or specific practices and beliefs that are transferred across generations and between practitioners of a faith (Gala and Gershevitch, 2011)

Cultural expression is being treated as a by-product of religious beliefs, it also used by religion in art. Religious institutions often use art as manifestation of religious worship such as complex geometric designs in Iranian mosques and stained-glass windows in Gothic cathedrals to develop unique artisan knowledge. This eventually become the iconic religious legacies and is formed as part of a shared cultural heritage. By viewing religion and culture in an interrelated way, culture enriched and propagated both the religious experience and education as it yields further religious and spiritual benefits. Moreover, culture amplifies religion through tangible and intangible mediums which transfer knowledge including the norms and expectation of the faith to members of the religious community and future generation. It is therefore clear that religion and culture are inseparable at any fundamental level.