Sociology

The merging of two cultures, specifically, in marriage can be very intimidating. Usually, under these circumstances, one culture dominates the other, especially, when talking in terms of Islamic and Christian ones. Even though both religions worship the same God, there are vast differences in the manner, in which the cultures have evolved. In fact, a high number of wars and misunderstandings have occurred due to cultural concepts. However, if the cultures are able to reconcile with each other, it is to be hoped that the global village will become smaller in future. The main factor of culture related relationships is that the males tend to dominate the emerging intercultural relationships, although that is not always the case.

The Merging of two Cultures
I would like to start this essay by saying that you do not choose, who you fall in love with. Love is the greatest variable in both Islam and Christianity. Although the both faiths have learned to mutually respect each other. Even though they worship the God of Abraham, there are vast differences in terms of doctrines. For example, in Islam, the women must be veiled in public, while the Christian women have no such restraint. Coincidentally, the cultures of Islam and Christianity in the developed countries are remarkably similar. However, religion is the dividing point. The Christian perspective of God being the Holy Trinity is rejected by Islam, where Jesus is seen as a prophet and not a Messiah. These dividing points become a cultural issue, not to mention if the relationship is between a European and an Asian. The religious holidays are also different.

I believe that in such a relationship the couple is able to mutually compromise, however, the families of the spouses very often refuse to allow the merging of the cultures. It is through much thought and debates that understanding and compromise is manifested. Perhaps, while visiting the family of one of the partners, the other one shows thus his or her respect to them. There is also the aspect of one partner completely rejecting their old culture and embracing the other culture. Whichever way the relationship works, the couple tends to be ostracized and faced with racism. When we talk in terms of different cultures, there are vast misunderstandings and an outright refusal to compromise. However, the modern world is changing and allowing peoples equality and equal freedom. Ideas and ideologies, which were suppressed by both religions, have to be weighed with laws that state that such a union is legally binding. In addition to this, one has to look at morality and ethics, as these two variables are intermittently affected by culture. I have heard of instances, where people of different cultures refuse to dine with each other and when forced to through circumstance tend to throw away the cutlery. Most cases of merging of cultures tend to take a large period of time for the cultures to learn to mutually respect each other, not to see others as different from themselves. It is the children that dont have the prejudices concerning the adults, however, they are faced at the early age with the issues of culture and racism. What people fail to understand is that evolution happens, regardless of whether we try to stop it from happening, as gene pools amalgamate, the human species will evolve. We have to accept that we are living in a very different world and that it has become a global village, in which technology has brought us all into the twenty second century.

However, it does not stop the current issues and the diversity of culture. Islam and Christianity, in essence, are brother faiths, people should accept each other as such. However, both believe the other to be wrong and hatred and prejudice is easier than love and understanding. Those who choose to cross the cultural line are incredibly brave, because not only does the world reject them, but their own families cannot condone their actions. The battle faced by the merging of two cultures is incredibly intricate and complex and needs much compassion and understanding. The book, Not without my Daughter by Betty Mahmoody is a compelling account of what involves cultural merging and the battles that have to be faced. There are no easy answers, you can unite the whole world to fight for environmentalism, but the moment you go into cultural issues there are shouts of racism and hatred. Words like prejudice are thrown around. We can analyze cultural merging and understand that it is not wrong, and yet it is a moral issue that needs to be addressed. Perhaps, if the world were more mature and understanding, couples, who find love, would not be the objects of shame and derision, but citizens of the world.