08-18-2009, 08:58 PM
Dears,
There is a difference between the things ruled by cultural norms and religious norms. Although our interior's hypocrisy does not let us to agree on this difference but it does exist. Culture is a bigger term than the religion in one way or other. We can declare that religion should over rule the culture but unfortunately, or whatever, it has never been witnessed.
The culture in so many areas over ride the strict limits and restrictions defined and prescribed by the religion. "Culture" can be area specific and may be influenced by other cultures as well. I hereunder name the few
- Religion condemns the use of musical instruments; let me know if there are even 10 percent houses where music has never been listened or heard or played; Qawwali is one of its so-called religious examples. Our culture is affected by Hinduism and Christianity in this regard.
- Religion does not allow us to waste our money on purposeless things like firing, bombing (artificial ones), lighting (specially when hospitals and educational institutions are lacking the power for patients and students); but we can see what we are during so many events including the so-called religious events like Shab-e-Barat. This we took from Hindu culture with which we remained mixed up for hundreds of years.
- Religion no where allows to start co-education in the way we are practicing. I mean our universities and colleges have become thee places of fashion shows and love affairs that has never been the intent of education. This is FARANGEE culture which attracts us.
- Religion prescribed PARDA for women. (Although PARDA is something not so strictly defined any where and has been stipulated by prescribing it in quite a broad sense). We can see hundreds of PARDA definitions that do not hail from the religion. Rather are based upon culture of specific areas.
There can be produced a long list which may be more relevant than these examples.
Culture may have two facets, our own culture and culture of others that attracts us. Here I must mention that OUR OWN CULTURE does not mean religion or its prescribed norms. Culture arises from history of an area, changes affecting such area over centuries e.g. wars, conquerors, migrants, social and other evolutionary impacts caused by so many reasons.
Wikipedia definition of culture is
- excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
- an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
- the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group
For detail I refer the link http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture
Dancing is not a thing advocated (Naoozbillah) by our religion but as far as culture is concerned, we may have to institute proper research before declaring anything.
People may not agree with this post.
Regards,
KAMRAN.
