Religion, Culture, and Communication

Abstract

Religion is an essential element of the human condition. Hundreds of studies have examined how religious beliefs mold an individual’s sociology and psychology. In particular, research has explored how an individual’s religion (religious beliefs, religious denomination, strength of religious devotion, etc.) is linked to their cultural beliefs and background. While some researchers have asserted that religion is an essential part of an individual’s culture, other researchers have focused more on how religion is a culture in itself. The key difference is how researchers conceptualize and operationalize both of these terms. Moreover, the influence of communication in how individuals and communities understand, conceptualize, and pass on religious and cultural beliefs and practices is integral to understanding exactly what religion and culture are. It is through exploring the relationships among religion, culture, and communication that we can best understand how they shape the world in which we live and have shaped the communication discipline itself. Furthermore, as we grapple with these relationships and terms, we can look to the future and realize that the study of religion, culture, and communication is vast and open to expansion. Researchers are beginning to explore the influence of mediation on religion and culture, how our globalized world affects the communication of religions and cultures, and how interreligious communication is misunderstood; and researchers are recognizing the need to extend studies into non-Christian religious cultures.

Holism of Religious Beliefs as a Facet of Intercultural Theology and a Challenge for Interreligious Dialogue

“…There is a growing body of research about the cross-sections between culture and religion, especially concerning the question of how religious beliefs express cultural background. Often noted are modes of intercultural communication that are accompanied by misunderstandings between members of different cultures (Croucher et al 2017;Wrogemann 2016, p. 13). Some researchers conceptualise this as a mode of mediation in communication.…”

“…Some researchers conceptualise this as a mode of mediation in communication. For example, Croucher et al (2017) emphasise that religions "have relied on mediations through various media to communicate their messages (oral stories, print media, radio, television, internet, etc.). These media share religious messages, shape the messages and religious communities, and are constantly changing.…”

Arabs and Atheism: Religious Discussions in the Arab Twittersphere

“…In this paper, we will adopt concepts that are particularly well suited to the context of discussing Islam. In general, religions consist of a community of believers who share tenets of faith and practices of worship, some of which may require separation from others [8,9,17]. Within a religion, there are often many branches which may or may not coexist peacefully with each other.…”

Validity and Reliability of Cultural Mix Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations among Healthcare Professionals in Ghana Amidst COVID-19

“…Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the culture may largely define what uncertainty is (i.e., the perceived difficulty of a situation) and how it is dealt with, and this shapes the ways people cope with anxiety [ 39 , 44 ]. Religion is a key component of culture, and these two are inseparable [ 45 ]. Accordingly, coping inventories/scales that do not pay attention to cultural issues, such as religion, miss an important cultural element (i.e., diversity), especially in societies where cultural issues are dominant [ 46 ].…”