Religion is influenced by culture because religion exists in two forms, the ideal and the real. The ideal form of a religion is called the essential. The essentials are the core beliefs of the faith. This is the religion displayed at its best, usually as it is described in the central religious texts of a faith. It is where we find the devotion to peace and compassion that are at the heart of most faiths' most cherished convictions.
Religions, however, are also embodied. This means they are lived and enacted in the real world, in real time, and almost always imperfectly. They must interact with and coexist with the society in which they are embedded. This inevitably means taking on the color of the culture in which a faith resides. Otherwise, a religion will not be relatable to very people it is trying to help and influence.
Christianity, because it is the largest religion in the world, offers a good example of adapting to various cultures. In countries such as Mexico, for example, the public, communal face of a faith is important, so there are many Christian parades and festivals. In more inward-facing societies, such as the Scandinavian, Christianity is more of a private affair, and less likely to be celebrated communally. In all countries, embodied Christianity, like all religions, often fails to live up to its highest ideals (its essentials) because people are imperfect.
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