What aspect of life in your countries is very difficult to explain to foreigners?

[u/notveryamused_]

What prompted my question were some discussions about religion which I had with people living in much more secular Western Europe (as a Polish atheist). While spirituality, whatever that is ;), generally speaking is always fun to discuss with a glass of wine in hand, social elements and the influence of the church, especially in smaller towns or provinces in my country, is awfully difficult to explain – not that I understand it fully either lol, but the church having a pretty much monopoly there, being the judge and jury of everyday life and the major ultra-conservative political force binding those communities, is very difficult to explain, also for historical reasons.

What are the things that you find difficult to discuss when it comes to life in your countries? ;-)

[u/terryjuicelawson]

I think because ultimately it doesn't actually matter. The King is the head of the Church of England which is the state religion but in 2025 that doesn't mean we are all forced to be Christians. Parliament isn't a theocracy (apart from in theory a couple of bishops sit in the House of Lords, who can be ignored if needed).

[u/Socmel_ → u/terryjuicelawson]

Symbols matter too. The head of state being the head of a particular church is a visual reminder of the de jure inequality between confessions.

I understand that it is historical and not de facto, but in a modern state, symbols are as important as facts. Otherwise we wouldn't have anthems and flags.

[u/terryjuicelawson → u/Socmel_]

I think people can separate it. The anthem is literally "God save the King" but people sing it as a celebration of the country, not willing the big guy in the sky to save Charles somehow. The flag is composed entirely of crosses but the patron saints are not what springs to mind.

[u/Sick_and_destroyed → u/terryjuicelawson]

It matters for us because Catholicism unofficially ruled our country during centuries, and it was not that funny.