Culture- A Religion of Convenience

Don’t mix Culture with Religion, one is Divine and other is man-made.

These were my exact words a few days ago when I was frustrated at some of the double standards around me. I have witnessed way too many instances in my life where religion has been mixed with culture and used to justify personal beliefs/preferences. This is a toxic mix. To mix culture with religion and in this case (Islam) is to mix poison with water.

As a young girl, the first education I ever received was at home and it was on my religion; Islam. I was taught the basic rituals, the pillars of faith, the recitation and meaning of Quran. But in addition to this, I was taught about the values promoted in our religion. These were values of equality, peace, modesty, justice, faith, kindness, charity, importance of knowledge, tolerance, morality, ethics, fairness, simplicity and humbleness. My earliest childhood memories were of my mother telling me stories before bed of Prophet Musa, Ibrahim, Yusuf and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Each story came with a moral and a lesson. At such a young age, when I was not yet exposed to the grim realities of the culture and society around me, I grew up with a certain view and expectations in life. Of course, I was told that our religion is an all-encompassing way of life, which at the time I had no trouble accepting because that was the only reality known to me.

I saw the beauty of my religion, I saw the reason behind its teachings and values. I saw it as a fair way of guiding one towards what’s right and wrong.

But of course, reality hit me as I grew up, I noticed that religion is basically reduced to and promoted through the rigid lenses of hell and heaven.

Religion (Islam), is not considered as an all-encompassing way of life, it is in fact just used as a tool for people to justify their preferred lifestyle. Society uses religion selectively, it creates a culture justified and validated in the name of religion. Because when the word ‘Islam’ or ‘Religion’ is used somehow, no questions can be asked. It ensures blind following and approval of the people. But is this really what our religion teaches us?

A religion with a Holy book (Quran) which repeatedly asked people to think

(Will you not think?) (Do you think?) (Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought?)

A religion that teaches tolerance, co-existence and equality “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (49:13)

How is the same religion used to rationalize the opposite; intolerance, arrogance, unquestioned submission, fake-ness, discrimination and more?

I believe that the project of the culture is the creation of this illusion that it is the most natural and consistent way of life for any given society. For a society and people that supposedly put religion above culture, where do you draw the line? When do you even decide what is culture and what is religion? When every behavioral form is regulated somehow through a religious element, how do you even question? How do you even decide what to do in life? Basically everything has already been planned and set out through a cultural/religious plan.

I often wonder that why do people not see a problem in selective usage of religion as a cultural mechanism. Why does this inter-mix of culture and religion exist and why is it so often accepted?

For example; why is there an obsession with women covering up and their physical appearance but it is quite normal to see the same women backstabbing, gossiping and bad-mouthing others?

Why is it so common to see a culture of charity but doing so for the sake of personal publicity?

How is it possible for a culture to support arrogance and superiority over others while claiming to be the follower of the religion that signifies equality?

Why is it normal for a society to highlight the ‘sins’ of a woman and highlight her religious punishment but ignore or even accept the same ‘sins’ from a man?

Why is it so common to see a society preaching about superiority of a husband to his wife and never being held accountable for failing to fulfill his duties towards her?

Why is it acceptable for a culture to stigmatize divorced women when in fact it has nothing to do with religion?

Why is it so common and acceptable for husbands to cheat but not acceptable for men and women to marry someone of their own choice?

Culture is man-made, culture is a living being, it is always changing with time but it is given a Divine status in our lives. It is given this status to assure absolute obedience. What is appalling to me is that many people acknowledge these double standards of culture, they understand culture’s misuse and dominance over religion but they will still choose to promote and uphold these cultural norms. My question is why? But the only answer I can think of is because people have created a religion of convenience. A religion, which becomes a tool, a justification for forwarding personal desires or maintaining a certain social structure. It is easily ignored when these same preferences are at stake.

It is this divine status of culture that regulates our lives, it set rules, controls us, defines and limits us. The religion does the opposite, it gives us basic life principles, it allows us to choose but culture makes the choices for us.

What I see around me are people educated to ignorance.

I believe we are not products of a culture, but we constantly create culture, through our behavior and through our life choices. So, if culture doesn’t make you happy then don’t buy it, but create your own. But of course it’s easier said than done, since culture is the new religion for many.

I understand that as humans we all want to belong to a group. This is precisely the project of culture; it makes you feel like you are part of a group that shares similar beliefs and values. However, the problem lies in the cultural exclusivity, a fascination and obsession with continuity of past. It allows no room for change, growth or any freedom of thought and choice. It becomes suffocating. My point here is, if you’re going to do that, at least leave religion out of it. Don’t create your own interpretations of religious text and your own versions of hadith to support whatever personal agenda it is that you want to pursue.

Photo from:

http://goinggreenforu.info/25/2196939-opposites-photography-black-and-white.html