[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Chris

It's impossible to discuss this meaningfully without a working definition of 'culture' we can agree on. As you have started off the thread by completely missing the point of my earlier post, we're not off to a good start.

Let's start by clearing that up:

Do you understand what a 'cultural artefact' is, and why a cultural artefact may or may not also be part of your heritage?
What is your working definition of 'culture'?

Full disclosure:
My first degree is in archaeology. Discussion of material culture and the interpretation of it, in pursuit of vanished cultures, a specialty.
My second degree (will be) in practical theology, unless I mess up the dissertation I'm meant to be writing this afternoon, which, coincidentally, is on the subject of how long-term exposure to visual storytelling (film and TV, with my specific examples drawn from Hollywood) affects the way spoken sermons are received by church congregations. My dissertation is being marked by a specialist in cultural theology, because that's the area I'm working in. The Hollywood summer blockbuster is both a builder of, and a mirror for, culture. As is Anfield on a Saturday afternoon.

Which is a very long-winded way of saying that I have spent a ridiculously large amount of my life contemplating what culture is, and how we relate to it, but also that I don't sadly have much time this evening to contribute here.

I know exactly what a "cultural artefact" is. That includes books, artwork, statues, archaeology etc, from which we can deduce something of the culture of those times and their effect on present culture.

My working definition of "culture" leans towards the anthropological meaning; so feel free to agree/disagree. To me, it means the values, goals, beliefs, behaviours etc shared by a society. Football is not one of those, not even within the etc range! Football is a widely shared interest that has little or no bearing on British culture.

Does "British Society" include all cultures present in the UK? And that is close to the nub of the matter. If other cultures don't share the same values and goals and beliefs of British society, we will run into trouble when/if their numbers grow to a critical mass, whatever that might be.

As regards theology, the Judeo-Christian foundation that is a pillar of British culture does not require believe in God. It is an accepted code of behaviour that we learn in school and from example at home and in association with others.