That culture is more important than religion?

Answer 1

That is a difficult question to answer, because in some countries, the culture and the religion are almost the same thing. For example, in Iran, there is an accepted way of dress, and this comes from the interpretation of the country's dominant religion. But in other countries, like the United States, there are people from many different cultures and many different religions, and there is no single official interpretation that dictates what to wear.

But even when culture and religion are not the same, people are influenced by both, although in different ways. For example, if you are Jewish or Hindu or Christian (or whatever), you learn the prayers and the customs of your religion, where to pray, what language is used in prayer, whether only men can lead the services, etc. But if you are American or British or Japanese (or whatever), you learn a different set of facts about the culture: you are taught about the history, the famous people, the holidays, the special events, etc. As an American answering this question, I learned to salute the flag. I learned how Americans dress (our styles are different from, let's say, the way people in India or Saudi Arabia might dress). I also learned about the customs that men and women in America follow. So the culture in America teaches you how to fit in, how to belong, how to identify with the norms of American life.

My religion may influence me too, but in a country that does not have one official religion, people might not see religious influence as much as cultural influence. My religion does influence me, in my ethics, the food I eat, the holy days I observe, and where I pray-- but those things are more a part of my private life. In a country where there is one dominant and public religion, it's easier to see examples of how that religion affects your life.

Of course, not everyone is religious, nor does everyone belong to an organized faith, but in most countries, children are taught something about religion when they are young. They may reject it later, but they are at least exposed to the basic beliefs and norms. The same is true about culture: it too is transmitted by parents and teachers, and when a child grows up, he or she may visit other countries or be exposed to other cultures within their own country. But whether you maintain your cultural beliefs or change them, is safe to say that culture, like religion, has an important role to play in shaping a person's identity.

Answer 2

Religion is not, Jesus is because he is the reason for life. Jesus hates the traditional religions of so called "Christianity".