So, I'm interested in the idea that there's a difference between "culture" and "religion". For the purposes of this interest, and to help delineate my thoughts, I'm defining "culture" as a set of societal beliefs, practices, and/or norms that a group of people evolve over time that helps to provide identity and shared experience, while "religion" I will define as faith-based beliefs. practices, and/or norms that are informed by a canon of scripture or other prophetic/inspired teachings. Religious practices and beliefs may also change over time, but tend to be more true to a basic set of core values, such as an authority figure/deity, while cultural practices are more organic and vernacular.
Both are important, and many times they're related, but one should not be mistaken for another. For example, if one were to view a cultural practice in Utah - that of bringing cheesy baked potato casserole to a funeral (they're even called "funeral potatoes") - one might come to believe that this was some sort of religious practice or sacrament. One might even argue the relative qualities of the different kinds of toppings (corn flakes, potato chips, or - I even got crazy once and did nacho cheese Doritos). But, however related this may seem to a religious occurrence, it is not part of the Mormon religion.
I think it's unfortunate when people confuse "culture" for "religion". As another example of what I'm talking about, there are people who belong to a certain political party. They are the majority in Utah, and their conservative views tend to fit well with people and their culture. There are others, however, who do not belong to the same political party - or to any political party - and whose views do not necessarily jive with the others and their party. These views are influenced - on both parts - by their religious beliefs, but there is a difference (or there should be a difference) between what people accept as an article of faith, or a religious belief, and a political party. One should be careful of subscribing wholesale to the views of a political party because in doing so one may abrogate one's responsibility to vote one's conscience. This is true of both political parties and of people in general. Just because one political party is predominant in an area, or seems to fit well with a particular culture, does not mean that the party represents either the culture or religion.
Interestingly, my religious beliefs have led me to the non-majority party in Utah. Further, I feel that at times the dominant culture in Utah serves to push me away from that majority party. I have been told that no good LDS person could be a Democrat. And I find that discouraging, because as noted above, there is a difference between cultural and religious norms and mores. By discouraging the exploration and even the existence of differing points of view, we are quelling the dissent and dissonance that is so necessary in growing new and better ideas. In order to plant, one must first plow the soil. While this is an invasive and sometimes painful experience, the growth that can occur is desirable.
Both are important, and many times they're related, but one should not be mistaken for another. For example, if one were to view a cultural practice in Utah - that of bringing cheesy baked potato casserole to a funeral (they're even called "funeral potatoes") - one might come to believe that this was some sort of religious practice or sacrament. One might even argue the relative qualities of the different kinds of toppings (corn flakes, potato chips, or - I even got crazy once and did nacho cheese Doritos). But, however related this may seem to a religious occurrence, it is not part of the Mormon religion.
I think it's unfortunate when people confuse "culture" for "religion". As another example of what I'm talking about, there are people who belong to a certain political party. They are the majority in Utah, and their conservative views tend to fit well with people and their culture. There are others, however, who do not belong to the same political party - or to any political party - and whose views do not necessarily jive with the others and their party. These views are influenced - on both parts - by their religious beliefs, but there is a difference (or there should be a difference) between what people accept as an article of faith, or a religious belief, and a political party. One should be careful of subscribing wholesale to the views of a political party because in doing so one may abrogate one's responsibility to vote one's conscience. This is true of both political parties and of people in general. Just because one political party is predominant in an area, or seems to fit well with a particular culture, does not mean that the party represents either the culture or religion.
Interestingly, my religious beliefs have led me to the non-majority party in Utah. Further, I feel that at times the dominant culture in Utah serves to push me away from that majority party. I have been told that no good LDS person could be a Democrat. And I find that discouraging, because as noted above, there is a difference between cultural and religious norms and mores. By discouraging the exploration and even the existence of differing points of view, we are quelling the dissent and dissonance that is so necessary in growing new and better ideas. In order to plant, one must first plow the soil. While this is an invasive and sometimes painful experience, the growth that can occur is desirable.
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