Iraqi Orphans Chained to Beds

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by mindfulcoug

you mentioned about the nonreligious reasons to remain attached to the culture ...
i am hardly struggling to realise what would really remian of being a shia and yet not believing in god culturally? you probably meant iranian cultural right? if the answer is yes..i am sure they could enjoy being iranian without being called shia .

No, within cultures, as long as one says, "I'm Muslim, I grew up Shia," one belongs and even an observant Shia will respect that person more than, "I used to be Shia, but now I reject it."

Sociologically, and psychologically, humans have needs to belong, even if one intellectually does not belong. Thus it is a sociological and cultural relationship.

My guess most religionists are light believers, not disbelievers, or agnostic but culturally affiliated.