Religions in general have to rediscover their roots.

In Hinduism and the Koran,

animals are described as equals. If you walk into a cathedral and look at the
decorations of early Christianity, there are vines, animals, creatures and birds
thriving all over the stonework. Said Margaret Atwood. She depicts that religion
has a root in all things. Religion has ingrained and impacted the world that stands
today. It has set standards for morals, and is responsible for the development of
civilization. All around the world different religions impact is continuous. Religion
has impacted culture, the economy, politics, and social relationships all around the
world.
Religion and culture are integrated in many ways. When one has a strong belief, it
encompasses their entire life. Therefore, people influence culture by including
private understandings to public expressions. Anthropologist Geertz defines culture
as "a historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of
inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men
communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward
life"(Wilk, Richard). The way people acquire this knowledge and attitudes about life,
have been impacted by religion at some point. Religion is a product of culture.
Religion has impacted many things such as art, language, and norms of behavior;
which all of products of culture. In every country and different regions of the world,
the culture is vastly impacted by religion. For example, in India getting a divorce is
a deviant act. According to the believers of Hinduism, marriage is seen as sacred
bond meant for procreation. Consequently, when one breaks this sacred bond,
cultural sanctions are placed.

Personally, religion has affected me in many ways regarding my culture. I am from

Iran, a country that is ruled by a Muslim government. The way people interact with
one another is largely influenced by the religion they are. My family comes from a
background of the minority faith of Bahai. Muslims and Baha'is views contrast
significantly, which results strife. My mother when she was younger had a secret
relationship with a Muslim boy. When her parents found out about affair, they sent
her off to another town and forced her into an arranged marriage with my father.
Muslim religion also affected the way I was allowed to dress. The clothes one
wears, and the behaviors one displays are commonly associated with culture.
However, religion is so intertwined with culture it is impossible to differentiate the
two in these circumstances. In a Muslim culture and religion, it is a rule that women
must keep their hair covered with a hijab, as well as their arms and legs. When I
am in Iran, I have to keep my hair covered and refrain from socializing with men in
public if we are not married.
In the United states the founding principle that drives society is the work ethic. This
is based on the protestant ethic that work is honorable and vital to the health of the
citizens. With this in mind, it affects the culture and drives the economy. By looking
at past history it proves how religion and economics have long been interlaced.
There are more verses in the bible regarding money than there are verses on
petition to God. The New Testament illustrates two opposing positions: from one
viewpoint is the reprobation that a rich individual has minimal shot of getting into
paradise; on the other it commends the hireling who got the greatest profit for his
cash. Islam, on the other hand, prohibits the charging of interest. In addition,
Buddhism trains its devotees to repudiate want for material products (Fitzgerald,

Michael). This is important because someones personal beliefs will affect the way
that they will strive to work. If their religion praises accomplishment regarding
money, they will strive for success with the utmost ambition. These religions
commend virtues of frugality, self-discipline, and devotion. They correlate these
attributes to progressing to heaven in the afterlife. This gives them the motivation,
thus progressing the economy.
Since economy and religion are intermingled that portrays the degree that religion
is ingrained into all aspects of life, even politics. It has been portrayed how politics
and religion have been amalgamated since the Roman Empire. When Christianity
emerged, it was first seen as threatening. However, when the powerful ruler,
Constantine, professed Christian beliefs many things changed. He had the power to
destroy sacred buildings, and persecute people of different beliefs. He had
intertwined the church and state, to the degree that all aspects of their lives were
influenced by religion. Even today, religion is still integrated into politics. Many
people say there is a separation of church and state, but many laws and regulations
prove otherwise. For example, in the United States there are controversial topics
such as abortion and same sex marriage. These topics are controversial because
people disagree due to their different religious beliefs. Conservatives are strongly
impacted by their traditional views of life; which were impacted by the puritans.
Puritans were people who strongly abide by the text of the bible. However, in this
day and age, people pick and choose what part of the bible they want to follow and
interpret that strictly. For example, Kim Davis is a county clerk in Kentucky who
refused to give a same sex marriage license. She has a strong belief that it is
immoral to be married to the same sex. Yet, she has been married four times and

condoned in premarital sex. According to the bible these are also immoral, but she
chooses what to follow depending if it applies to her.
Politics and religion are also amalgamated in many other countries around the
world. In my personal experience, my family and I fled from Iran to America as
refugees due to religious beliefs. Previously stated Iran is a theocracy, that is ruled
by a Muslim government. As Bahai people we were not allowed to attend many
colleges or get good jobs. This portrays how people are isolated from one another
due to their beliefs. Religion impacts the way people see each other. Ones religious
beliefs is incorporated in all aspects of his or her life; therefore, when someone
elses actions defy these beliefs, they see them as sinful and wrong. However, this
does not apply to everyone. There are many people all around the world who are
open-minded and accept everyone despite their religious beliefs and actions.
In conclusion, it has been revealed that religion is all encompassing consciously,
and unconsciously through many aspects of life such as culture, economy, politics,
and social relationships. Culture and religion are remarkably intertwined; it is
sometimes impossible to differentiate the two. The ways people act in different
cultures are impacted by the different religions they believe. The art, language,
social interactions, and clothing are all influenced by religion. Not only does religion
impact culture it affects politics as well. Most regions of the world that has strong
government is at least affected by religion in one manner. Due to religions impact
on culture, politics and economy; it has affected interpersonal and social
relationships. Religion sets certain rules and virtues one must attain. Thus, people
become wary of one another due to their beliefs but also learn to love and accept
everyone in hopes of being a better person.

Works cited
Akbar, Arifa. "Margaret Atwood: 'People Should Live Joyfully'" The Independent.
Independent Digital News and Media, 4 Sept. 2009. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Wilk, Richard. "ANTHROPOLOGIST BIOGRAPHIES - Geertz." ANTHROPOLOGIST

BIOGRAPHIES - Geertz. Indiana University, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

Fitzgerald, Michael. "Satan, the Great Motivator." Boston.com. The New

York Times, 15 Nov. 2009. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.