I think that in many cases, cultural relationships may be stronger than religious ties.
In some cultures there is no clear separation between culture and religion, so within such cultures the question of strength is a nonstarter. However, sameness of ethnicity, language, and race are important factors that can trump any religious differences, and religious similarities may likewise be outweighed by differences in ethnicity, language, and race. My personal experience with Chinese people suggests that they generally tend to put less weight on religious differences or similarities, and the experiences of some of my acquaintances suggests that the same is true of the Japanese.
It depends on socio-economic and political contexts. In the West, for example, the culture is more stronger than religion (separation of religion or Church and state). In traditional Muslim countries it seems that religion is still strong despite different cultures there (Indonesia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia, for instance).
For example, would the relationship between a Bengali Muslim and a Bengali Hindu (similar culture) be stronger than the relationships between a Bengali Muslim and a Punjabi Muslim or an American Muslim or a Swedish Muslim or a Nigerian Muslim or an Iranian Muslim (same religion)? Is there any research evidence that supports this? Can we use personal, anecdotal experience to support this idea?
Which is stronger: The relationship between a Lebanese Christian and a Lebanese Muslim, or
The relationship between a Lebanese Christian, and a Swedish Christian or an Ethiopian Christian or a Korean Christian?
In some cultures there is no clear separation between culture and religion, so within such cultures the question of strength is a nonstarter. However, sameness of ethnicity, language, and race are important factors that can trump any religious differences, and religious similarities may likewise be outweighed by differences in ethnicity, language, and race. My personal experience with Chinese people suggests that they generally tend to put less weight on religious differences or similarities, and the experiences of some of my acquaintances suggests that the same is true of the Japanese.
I believe Religion is stronger since it makes culture. but it can be vice versa if the religion is taken as just a formality
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak
May I humbly request you to write some comments in sentences. Single word responses are not helpful or useful. You are most kind. Shukran
Azizuddin Mohammed Please do not answer this sensitive question if you are uncomfortable. Do you think the British were stupid and ill-informed, and uneducated in their decision on the sub-continent? Or was it a conscious decision to divide and conquer?
Mr. Joseph Tham!! with due respect I would like to say that every religion leads towards a positive culture only and a true follower of any religion will love humanity regardless of cultural and religious differences. in fact the main problem in the world now is lack of true knowledge of the religion they are practicing.
Azizuddin Mohammed I will repeat my statement for you, since you REFUSE to answer it.
For example, would the relationship between a Bengali Muslim and a Bengali Hindu (similar culture) be stronger than the relationships between a Bengali Muslim and a Punjabi Muslim or an American Muslim or a Swedish Muslim or a Nigerian Muslim or an Iranian Muslim (same religion)? Is there any research evidence that supports this? Can we use personal, anecdotal experience to support this idea?
I understood your question very well and hope you will try to understand my answer that if a true practitioner of any religion makes relations it can be stronger based on their believe that all human been are equal regardless to their believes and cultures and I have many friends from different countries (cultures) and different religions and I see even though there are lots of differences in culture our relationship is joyful and strong.
in my point of view question it self needed correction.
What do you mean by "stronger"? This doesn't make any sense to me at all.
The problem is, Azizuddin Mohammed , that many professed followers of a religion would not qualify as a "true practitioner" as you define the notion. So Professor Tham is merely trying to ascertain some sociological facts that take the widespread existence of (in your terms) non-true-practitioners into account.
John Traphagan At the risk of incurring the wrath of the members here, let me repost my statements, and in answering them, you can test your intuition. Apologies to all those people who read my posts.
Which is stronger: The relationship between a Lebanese Christian and a Lebanese Muslim, or
The relationship between a Lebanese Christian, and a Swedish Christian or an Ethiopian Christian or a Korean Christian?
For example, would the relationship between a Bengali Muslim and a Bengali Hindu (similar culture) be stronger than the relationships between a Bengali Muslim and a Punjabi Muslim or an American Muslim or a Swedish Muslim or a Nigerian Muslim or an Iranian Muslim (same religion)? Is there any research evidence that supports this? Can we use personal, anecdotal experience to support this idea?
What are the empirical facts on the ground, please? Unless you think that my statements are incomprehensible and nonsensical. Do not worry. I will not be offended if you do think so.
OK. I know of no way to measure this, because I don't know how you measure the "strength" of a relationship. Also, religion is a component of culture, so I don't see much point in this sort of comparison. It certainly does not make sense from the perspective of a social scientist.
John Traphagan Your point is well-taken. Let me think and write a response to you. Muchas gracias maestro.
Perhaps I should give an example from my own practice. Our society in the Urals has long existed on base of its territorial-cultural similarity. We have a lot of Ortodox, Muslims, Judaists and even Lutherans (the so-called Russian Germans). For example, I have never (I am from an Old Believer family) experienced any problems in dealing with Tatars, Bashkirs (mostly they are Muslims), etc. Also, I did not see any conflicts on a religious basis in my near and far circle of communication. At the same time, I know that the Tatars and Bashkirs have certain difficulties in relations with co-religionists from the North Caucasus (they are Sunni too), to the extent that they go to different mosques... But the similarity of religions (Orthodoxy) does not affect my relations with the Bulgarians, Georgians and Ukrainians - too big gap in mentality (ie, individual core of culture). The difference in the religious basis has never been an obstacle for me, for example, I do not see differences in my relations with familiar Italians, Poles, Slovaks and Russian colleagues.
So, after all, culture, not religion ...
On the other hand, politicians in recent years have been actively playing out national and religious "cards" and this affect to individual relations. If already tell the whole truth, then American culture does not cause such serious rejection as the "missionaries" of numerous American churches. Religion is still more personal, and rarely does anyone reflect it on social behavior.
To juxtapose culture and religion or to make an argument "so, after all, culture, not religion.." is problematic. It is like arguing that music and culture are different; or sports and culture are different. Part of the problem here is that "culture" is so vague that it is difficult to make use of analytically. What about other categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, etc.? To contrast culture and religion, and to try to argue which is stronger, simply doesn't make sense from an analytical perspective. But if one really wants to try this, you need to begin by carefully defining both culture and religion.
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