Quote:
Originally Posted by Kissaki
I don't see how minarets or calls to prayer go against culture, though. In this context, by "culture" I mean moral values, social norms. I am not talking about architecture, music or visual arts. Sure, a mosque or minaret is going to stand out in a non-Muslim environment at first, but only because it's different. Minarets aren't meant for you, and you're not forced to go. And so they do not interfere with your life unless you let it. Sure, we are more used to church bells than Islamic calls to prayer, but this is purely a cosmetic difference, and only a question of familiarity.
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I see culture as more than just moral values and norms. I see culture as the whole collection of things that differentiates one people from another. For example, that differentiates us Dutchmen from you Norwegians. While our values and norms are probably pretty similar, our cultures still differ. It's because we've got other architecture, other food, another history, other music, you name it. All these things, both material and immaterial in nature, define a culture.
It very well is a question of familiarity, but that is simply because culture in itself is a question of familiarity.