What does 'be it Christianity or Islam' mean?

[Iwanna]

The following passage is excerpted from an article about the female circumcision in Egypt:

But as the men in this village demonstrated, widespread social change in Egypt comes very slowly. This country is conservative, religious and, for many, guided largely by traditions, even when those traditions do not adhere to the tenets of their faith, be it Christianity or Islam.

what are the meaning and grammatical function of the highlighted words here?

[Conchita]

'Be it Christianity or Islam' means 'whether it is Christianity or Islam'/'it doesn't matter if it is Christianity or Islam'.

Here is another example:

Some think that everything that happens in our lives, be it good or bad, has a purpose.

In these sentences, 'be' is in the subjunctive mood.

[Iwanna]