Marbaniang, Domenic

Any religion best relates to a culture by relating well with other components of the culture. A healthy religion is one that contributes to the constructive development of the whole culture by elimination of destructive elements and development of edifying ones. Since man is a rational, emotional, truth loving, political, sociological, and religious being, each of his needs must be healthily met. And so it is not practically possible for any religion not to contribute in any way to the culture. But the question is "Can Christianity maintain a healthy relationship with culture by being a significant factor in its development?" Relationship with nature has been a significant feature of many religions. Totally segregating from any relationship with nature is impossible since survival requires relationships with nature. Even in religions like Hinduism, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Jainism ascetism has been the pursuit of a few, while the majority liberal, considered the common laym...

An adequate definition of either religion or culture is not easy to come by. Normally, by religion we understand a system or system of systems that on the basis of certain authorities (like scriptures or traditions) provide its adherents with guidelines of belief and practice. Psychologists view religion as one's response to the supernatural power or powers in keeping with given or discovered beliefs resulting in religious behavior. As such religion is both an individual and conglomerate experience. The word "culture," today, often refers to customs and civilization of a particular time or people. A particular culture is made up of world views (religious and secular), values, society (family, social systems, educational systems, law and order), and customs. It is well accepted that cultures are not static but dynamic. As the elements of culture undergo change, so does culture undergo change. It can be seen that religion influences the various elements of culture in a vari...