cultureelreligieuze

Cultureelreligieuze (often written cultureel-religieuze) is a Dutch term used to describe the intersection of culture and religion, or social phenomena in which religious beliefs and practices shape cultural life. The term is typically used as an adjective referring to groups, identities, or practices where religious norms are embedded in everyday culture, including language, rituals, education, cuisine, attire, and festivities. It is not a distinct religion or school of thought, but a descriptor of how religion permeates cultural expression.

In scholarly and public discourse, cultureelreligieuze phenomena can encompass a range of forms, from traditions transmitted through families and communities to organized cultural-religious movements and institutions. It is often discussed in relation to secularization, pluralism, and integration, as well as to the historical Dutch phenomenon of verzuiling (pillarization), where different religious and ideological groups maintained parallel cultural spheres.

The term can apply cross-religiously, including Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, and other communities, whenever religious values help shape cultural identity and daily life. Critics warn that the label can obscure internal diversity or be used polemically in debates about education, immigration, or public life. Proponents emphasize the role of culture in sustaining community ties, moral frameworks, and rituals.

See also: secularization, religious studies, cultural identity, pillarization, plurality.