The Cultural Framework Of Saudi Arabia

As human beings, people have their own form of identity and often have the need of belonging to be part or member of a group. Culture is the shared characteristics of a group of people which include beliefs, language, values, traditions, rules and laws. Culture can be passed down from generation to generation for instance from parents to children, and since culture is the product of society thus it can grow and be learnt through social interaction. Moreover, the significance of culture is so profound because it plays a big role in helping individuals shape their own identity, the beliefs, values and morals shared from our culture that we have practiced for all our life, can determine who we are as a person and our choices in life.

Culture is an intermingling mesh of traits that, although unique to each person, brings groups of people together. It is comprised of numerous different aspects that are passed down through generations, including religion, food, clothing, language, music, morals, and greetings. Because of its extensive range, it is easy to see how much culture impacts a person’s life. One’s culture vastly affects how he or she views the world due to ingrained traditions, stereotypes, and values within his or her heritage.

Culture makes up every aspect of person’s life and can range from moral ideas such as values, beliefs, and laws to physical traits like specific objects, behaviors, and symbols. Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein further explains, in The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, that culture “acts as a lens through which one views the world” (73). Culture allows people with similarities to come together, and others with different cultural views to experience different perspectives. Giving people a sense of belonging, culture defines people’s way of life.

Several factors affect the formation of one’s culture, Palispis, E. (2007) quoted Sir Edward Tylor, “Culture… refers to that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of society.” (Palispis, E., 2007) In this context culture is something we acquire from the people we have lived with since we were born, it is not something a person can learn overnight nor can be disposed effortlessly.

The main idea in the reading of, A Guide to Learning: Critical Reading, Thinking, and Writing by Professor Souaiaia, is to help the students of this class, including me, better understand what we will see and what to understand before hand when reading the articles, chapters, and books related to this class. Professor Souaiaia is a credible source for this reading because he is specialized in the area of the Islamic Civilization and a professor at the University of Iowa, which takes a talented and intelligent individual to do so. Professor Souaiaia used his experience, expertise, and teaching this class before as his disciplinary tools to draw evidence in his reading.

Crimes punishable by the death sentence in Saudi Arabia include murder, serious attacks on the Islam religion, adultery, dress codes, and since 1987, drug smuggling. Under Saudi Arabian law, serious crimes merit serious consequences. Repeated theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand, administered under anesthetic. Because most meals in Saudi Arabia are eaten by hand from a communal bowl and only the right hand may touch the food, this punishment effectively bans the convicted thief from society. The severity of this punishment has led to a slight softening of the law in recent years; now if the thief repents and makes restitution before the case is brought before a judge, the punishment can be reduced... furthermore, the victim

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” (Marcus Garvey). In today’s society, culture is one of the most influential aspects of one’s identity. From family recipes to the clothing we wear, it all represents our lives of today and who we are. Culture helps bring out our true identities, brings us together, and makes our lives easier by new inventions.

From the perspective of many Americans, the Middle East is a world apart, incomparable and without connection with culture or tradition. The truth of the matter is that Islamic influence has been pervasive in American society for many years. What were once predominately Christian institutions, have become more willing to allow Islamic culture and religion influences into their organizations. While the Muslim community has made substantial contributions in the areas of science and commerce, the impact of the Islamic religion itself has been much more noticeable on the social landscape of America.

Saudi Arabia from its ancestral beginnings has been a land where women always walked in the shadows of men in almost all aspects. The nature of women’s participation emanates from cultural and religious perspectives under Islamic Sharia. In the late nineteenth century, the world witnessed the start of globalization and modernization, where the idea of feminism has begun to gain currency. From then on, the status of women in Islam became one of the most controversial topics questioning both religion and government over fundamental debates. Moreover, issues regarding women’s rights and their role in the development have been equally controversial. The Muslim activists calls themselves “Islamic Feminist” who distinguishes themselves in the Western

“A culture is a society’s personality and our membership in a culture plays a big role in shaping our identities as individuals” (Solomon, Russell-Bennett. 2010). The accumulation of shared meanings, languages, rituals, norms and customs, also a range of traditions among the world enriches the cultural diversity. The

From its rich and varied cultural history and practices to its stunningly beautiful cities full of unique architecture, Saudi Arabia is a fascinating country. With its acknowledged status as the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia is an important cultural and religious hub for many who come seeking spiritual enlightenment or simply a chance to experience the bustling cities and thriving commerce of the prosperous metropolises. With a population of over 28 million people, Saudi Arabia is a vital part of the Middle East, with some major influence on the Arab countries around it. In order to fully appreciate the unique customs and overall societal expectations of this or any other country, one must understand not only its geographical location and a few key facts about it, but how it functions both as a nation made up of many diverse minds, and as a singular driving force in the complicated dance between all the nations of the world. With this in mind, there are several factors to consider when studying a country such as Saudi Arabia, namely, the main language, the major religion, the culture and cultural norms, and the business etiquette.

As a manager of a multinational company, I would have a report set up on the cultural differences between our culture and that of Saudi Arabia. In the report, there would be further explanation of the differences of cultures pertaining to religion and general way of communicating. Furthermore, the report would be used as a learning tool, by describing the sensitivity and actions around the different categories of cultural awareness, cultural collision, using religion as a cultural stabilizer, culture shock and the ability to adjust. Once the study is completed I will make a recommendations for the team to follow during their trip to Saudi Arabia in addition to figuring out the additional operating cost my company might assume because of the culture.

Nowadays, many people are identifying their background. They are being judged by a different characteristic such as origin, education, and mentality. There are many diverse cultures all around the world. Therefore, people have a different culture, which sometimes interferes with the perception. Moreover, the way a person see things can be very different from how another person perceives it. In addition, the Arabica culture and American culture are different in four ways in terms of clothes, mentality, food, and religious beliefs.

Accounts of Islamic civilization can be seen in many different things, including religion, art and architecture, science and philosophy, and gender roles, which all show the ways that it contributed to not only the past society but today’s world as well. In four lectures at a public library, I will be describing Islamic civilization using the four topics previously mentioned along with some others. These lectures will describe the history of Islamic civilization, some major contributors to the civilization, and what impact these discoveries and contributions made to their society and the world we live in today. There will be some conflicts with people in the audience who do not agree or believe the facts about Islamic civilization that I am lecturing about. One person is going to argue that women have no role in Islamic civilization while the other person will say that non-Muslims also have no role in Islamic civilization.

We know that there is a diverse population in Singapore, consisting mainly of Chinese, Malay and Indians, all of which does not possess one single dominant national identity. Drawing on a variety of traditions, different ethnic groups all consider themselves important parts of the diverse society of Singapore. However, In the Saudi Arabia society, most people believe in Islam, and religious control of Islam and its influence on the country are political, economical and can be seen in people's daily life. Neglecting of religion may cause troubles in business activities. In Islam canon, the most important are: religious service, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage and other activities. Religious service is a ceremony that shows gratitude,