American culture vs Islamic culture
American culture
The American culture, more precisely the one from the United States, is based on a Western culture, but is also influenced by many other cultures such as Native American, African, Asian and Latin American culture. The Americans have their own cultural and social norms. They share a language, music (even though it's very diversified), religion, cinema, beliefs, ideology...
Language
In the United States, the language that is the most spoken is English. Even if they are no official language for the countries, over 30 states now have English as the official language. With all the ethnicities in the country, they are many more languages that are spoken. More than 300 languages other than English are spoken in the United States.
· English: 82.1%
· Spanish: 10.7%
· Other Indo-European languages (3.8%)
· Other Asian or Pacific Islander languages (2.7%)
· Other languages (0.7%)
Music
The music made in the United States is known all over the glob. The music is usually country, jazz, rock, hip-hop and rap. Their music has a big influence on music around the world, and is popular in many countries. That is a good way to spread the American culture. Some of their most famous musician/artist are Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Madonna and many more.
Cinema
The cinema, often called Hollywood has an important place in the American culture. It had (at the beginning of the 20th century) and still has an important effect on cinema all over the world. It allows the American to spread their culture around the world. It's also a good example of Americanization, because people all over the world watch those movies and are influenced by them.
Religion
For a developed country, the United States is a very religious society. They are many religions present in the U.S, because of all the people and all the ethnicities, but the majority of the population is Christian. Religion always had a big importance in the U.S. but with post-modernity, the religion started to loose its place in the citizen lives, but still a big part of the population is religious. Unlike other countries, religion doesn't have an influence on politics or on other sphere.
Language
In the United States, the language that is the most spoken is English. Even if they are no official language for the countries, over 30 states now have English as the official language. With all the ethnicities in the country, they are many more languages that are spoken. More than 300 languages other than English are spoken in the United States.
· English: 82.1%
· Spanish: 10.7%
· Other Indo-European languages (3.8%)
· Other Asian or Pacific Islander languages (2.7%)
· Other languages (0.7%)
Music
The music made in the United States is known all over the glob. The music is usually country, jazz, rock, hip-hop and rap. Their music has a big influence on music around the world, and is popular in many countries. That is a good way to spread the American culture. Some of their most famous musician/artist are Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Madonna and many more.
Cinema
The cinema, often called Hollywood has an important place in the American culture. It had (at the beginning of the 20th century) and still has an important effect on cinema all over the world. It allows the American to spread their culture around the world. It's also a good example of Americanization, because people all over the world watch those movies and are influenced by them.
Religion
For a developed country, the United States is a very religious society. They are many religions present in the U.S, because of all the people and all the ethnicities, but the majority of the population is Christian. Religion always had a big importance in the U.S. but with post-modernity, the religion started to loose its place in the citizen lives, but still a big part of the population is religious. Unlike other countries, religion doesn't have an influence on politics or on other sphere.
-Roman Catholic (23.9%) -Mormon (1.7%) -Other Christian (1.6%) -Remainder of Christians (1.7%) |
Islamic culture
Religion
Islamic culture represents the common practices of Islamic people, Muslims.The religion is, however, strongly mistaken and associated with an Arabic cultural connotation. For that reason, it becomes a complex and difficult task to describe Islam’s culture; because not all Arabs are Muslim. Notably, Arabs only consist about 20% of Muslims worldwide. There are Muslim Europeans as well as Muslim Asians. Islam is a monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad, which were later, recorded in the Koran, Islam’s sacred text. Islam is composed of five pillars: declaration of faith, formal prayer five times a day facing the Mecca, fasting during daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan, poor-due ‘’tax’’ and pilgrimage to Mecca at least once a lifetime. Islam is an infinite and consuming devotion that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
Language
-Mostly arabic including varieties
There are different Arabic dialects in the Arab world
Music, architecture, cinema and art
Their music, architecture and cinema are all mostly inspired by and based on Islam. Islamic art is mostly centered on religion. It's also usually centered around Allah, and since Allah cannot be represented by imagery, geometric patterns are used.
Marriage
The concept of marriage is really important. Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required and divorce is permissible.
Islamic culture represents the common practices of Islamic people, Muslims.The religion is, however, strongly mistaken and associated with an Arabic cultural connotation. For that reason, it becomes a complex and difficult task to describe Islam’s culture; because not all Arabs are Muslim. Notably, Arabs only consist about 20% of Muslims worldwide. There are Muslim Europeans as well as Muslim Asians. Islam is a monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad, which were later, recorded in the Koran, Islam’s sacred text. Islam is composed of five pillars: declaration of faith, formal prayer five times a day facing the Mecca, fasting during daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan, poor-due ‘’tax’’ and pilgrimage to Mecca at least once a lifetime. Islam is an infinite and consuming devotion that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
Language
-Mostly arabic including varieties
There are different Arabic dialects in the Arab world
Music, architecture, cinema and art
Their music, architecture and cinema are all mostly inspired by and based on Islam. Islamic art is mostly centered on religion. It's also usually centered around Allah, and since Allah cannot be represented by imagery, geometric patterns are used.
Marriage
The concept of marriage is really important. Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required and divorce is permissible.
Repartition of religions across the globe
Muslims are spread in many different countries around the world
http://wws.peacecorps.gov/wws/publications/culture/pdf/chapter2.pdf
http://www.stgiles-international.com/forms/General_cultural_information_usa.pdf
http://www.bu.edu/isso/Tips/AmericanValues.pdf
http://www.minaret.org/islamic%20religion%20and%20western%20culture.pdf
http://www.stgiles-international.com/forms/General_cultural_information_usa.pdf
http://www.bu.edu/isso/Tips/AmericanValues.pdf
http://www.minaret.org/islamic%20religion%20and%20western%20culture.pdf