Hofstede’s editions show religion shifting from cultural result to mere expression of culture

Evidence

The way that Hofstede conceptualizes and positions religion in his theory differs in different editions. By comparing the first, second and third editions of Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, Hofstede’s struggle to position religion within intercultural management becomes visible. … In the 1991 edition Hofstede (1991, p. 16) views religion “as a result as much as a cause of cultural differences”. In the 2005 edition (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005, p. 17) religion is “as much as, or more than a cause of cultural differences”. The comparison so far shows that Hofstede gradually views religion as more essential than culture. However, in the 2010 edition (Hofstede et al., 2010) religion can be an important factor for the cultural identity of people or groups, but cultural dimensions may have an older origin than religion. … According to Hofstede (Hofstede et al., 2010, p. 454), “religion seems to have been a result of previously existing cultural value patterns more than a cause of cultural differences”. He (Hofstede et al., 2010, pp. 28–29) insists that religion influences moral circles but gives less essential importance to religion. Ultimately, Hofstede positions religion as dependent on culture and not as the core of a culture. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 839

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to broader debates in management studies over whether religion is a cultural variable or something deeper; pairs with arguments about de-secularization in organizational theory.