Culture in the United States and China

Culture in the United States and China

Kira Thames

Introduction to Sociology

Jennifer Melvin

October 24, 2014

Culture in the United States and China

All countries have different societal structures, norms, languages, religions, and symbols. Culture is the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and generation to the next in a human group or society (Kendall, D). The United States and China have cultures that are known throughout the world. There are differences between the two countries but they also have similar aspects that mold these two cultures together.

The United States is known as a melting pot because there are a lot of cultures that are here and are welcomed. The United States has many different languages spoken here but the primary language is English. In the United States there are many different ethnic groups with many spoken languages. There is an official speech in the United States which is English. In China there is also a number of ethnic groups that speak many languages. Chinese is the primary language that is spoken in China. In both countries the languages emulate the way in which people survive in the different societies.

Religion plays a big part in culture. The main religion in the United States is Christianity. Religion in the United States has a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. There is no dominate religion in the United States because there are so many congregations and denominations.  China has three religions which are known as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. In china people usually practice two or more beliefs that are intertwined with each other. China’s religion is not considered a unified system. This is because they do not have leadership or denominations.