Many cultures are caught up in one belief, and each person in that culture must adhere to what everyone believes or deal with the consequences, depending on where they are.  There are a few ways that a culture is affected by their beliefs, and most of the time, this affects nearly everybody in that specific area.

1.  Cultures are affected by their beliefs, because beliefs stand to sometimes be stronger than the culture.  For example, a country may be known as having one of the strongest family units in the world, but if a family member doesn’t adhere to the beliefs of that society, they could be excommunicated out of the family.  Sometimes, no matter how strong the family unit is, the belief system takes precedence over anything else.  It is almost like the people in that location are given a choice to either believe what everybody else believes, be considered an outcast, or possibly even be killed. 

2.  Some cultures are somewhat affected by their beliefs, but their culture takes precedence.  Many countries have a very strict culture and they are only mechanically affected by what the majority of the country believes.  People will say that they are of a certain belief, and sort of go through the motions, but when it comes down to changing their lifestyle, they will not because that is their culture.  Furthermore, they take their culture and try to mingle it with their beliefs, and oftentimes, they compromise what their “higher authority” says. 

3.  Beliefs often strengthen a culture!  Different cultures have a belief system that make the family unit stronger, especially if they have seen that it works.  Many countries should look at their belief system and see that it is not working and abandon it.  However, there is too much pride and those countries end up not being an integral part of society. 

The individual should always have the right to choose who they want to follow and what beliefs they want to adhere to.  The culture will always have influence on its people, especially if their beliefs are strong, but an individual should never be forced to decide what they must believe.  A culture is only strong if they allow their people to believe in whatever they want, which represents cultures that are positively influenced by their beliefs.