Culture has a real, inextricable presence within the religious community. They are both tightly woven threads in the tapestry of humankind. The geographical sprawl of religion often causes cultural identity tension at the borders of the expansion. However, technology has given religious communities a different way of sprawling.
Technological sprawl looks much different than geographical sprawl. One of the differences is that religious and cultural identities converge deeper within and throughout the global group. Previously, undue tensions were resolved at the geographical borderline; however, technological sprawl means large groups must learn to mediate tensions rising up virtually (!) anywhere.
Now that technology is bringing the ends of the world into such close proximity, how do members of a religious group that are from a minority culture identity relieve the pressure and tension between themselves and the dominant cultural identity that is often (always?) tightly woven into religion?
It seems to me that people who join a group (i.e. religious) with a much different dominant culture will do one of two things to cope with the tension. They will find or create a subculture that reflects/aligns with their cultural identity, or they will adopt the dominant culture as their own.
My question is this: Why do humans have such a difficult time belonging to a like-minded group (ex: religious beliefs), while espousing a personal identity that does not necessarily conflict with this group, but also does not align with that group's dominant expression of identity?
Is it simply because we are social creatures with such a strong need to bond with fellow humans that we would rather sacrifice independence personal expression at the altar of group cohesion?
