Culture as a dependent variable makes a lot of since to me since we are all basically products of our social surroundings or influences. However, culture is also made up in our beliefs and our values. So even though occupation, income, and education play a big part in the make-up of our culture, the spiritual aspects of our culture have a lot to do with it as well.

I want to add that I can see how both the order and the conflict theories have good points about class and I think the way class is explained in the Order paradigm is more accurate to real life. (I guess I'm answering two questions in this.) I find it conflicting that the "haves" and the "have-nots" are under the same classes in the conflict model. Even though, realistically, we are in the same classes sometimes, the conflict model seems to go against it's own theory in this. The oppressors and the oppressed are usually on different ends of the spectrum. The other thing I noticed is that even though the conflict model seems to be more insightful on a lot of things, it isn't true to the individual as much as it is to the society. But this is Sociology so what did I expect, right?
Pamela