Beliefs- Topic 5(Paper2)

Question 1

Explain the features of fundamentalism. An authoritative sacred text.

Answer 1

Every word of the Bible is true, it’s truths are valid for all eternity and contains answers to life questions.

Question 2

Explain the features of fundamentalism. An ‘us and them’ mentality.

Answer 2

They separate themselves from the rest of the world and refuse to compromise with it.

Question 3

Explain the features of fundamentalism. Aggressive reaction.

Answer 3

Fundamentalist movements aim to draw attention to the threat to their beliefs and values and their reactions are therefore aggressive.

Question 4

Explain the features of fundamentalism. Use of modern technology.

Answer 4

Fundamentalists oppose modern culture which they see as corrupted by secularism, liberalism, materialism, permissiveness and promiscuity.

Question 5

Explain the features of fundamentalism. Patriarchy.

Answer 5

Hawley notes that fundamentalists favour a world in which control over women’s sexuality, reproductive powers.

Question 6

Explain the features of fundamentalism. Prophecy.

Answer 6

Christian fundamentalists proclaim the relevance of biblical prophecies to contemporary events.

Question 7

Explain the features of fundamentalism. Conspiracy theories.

Answer 7

Fundamentalists are often attracted to conspiracy theories:the idea that powerful, hidden, evil forces and organisations are in control of human destiny.

Question 8

According to Davie, why are fundamentalists the product of modernity?

Answer 8

Fundamentalism occurs where those who hold traditional orthodox beliefs and values and threatened by modernity and feel the need to defend themselves against it.

Question 9

According to Giddens, why does late modern society encourage fundamentalism?

Answer 9

Individuals are constantly forced with choice, uncertainty and risk.

Question 10

Define cosmopolitan.

Answer 10

Is a way of thinking about the world that embraces modernisation is characterised by diversity, freedom, choice and uncertainty.

Question 11

What do cosmopolitan religions and spirituality emphasise?

Answer 11

Emphasises pursuit of personal meaning rather than submission to authority.

Question 12

According to Batman, why does postmodern society lead some people to fundamentalism?

Answer 12

It heightens uncertainty and risk and as such fundamentalism attempts to restore certainty and elimate ‘risk’.

Question 13

Explain the resistance identity response to postmodernist that Castells identified.

Answer 13

A defensive reaction of those who feel threatened and thus turn to fundamentalism.

Question 14

Explain the project identity response to postmodernist that Castells identified.

Answer 14

A forward looking response which embraces progression and change.

Question 15

4 criticisms of Giddens, Bauman and Castells.

Answer 15

-Theybignore ‘Hybrid’ communities where cosmopolitanism and fundamentalism are not polar opposites eg. the use of media technologies.

• They are fixated on how globalisation affects fundamentalism and ignore its effect on ‘general’ religions.

-Giddens doesn’t distinguish between types of fundamentalism.

-Extremism isn’t just a reaction to globalisation but also to more ‘localised’ problems.

Question 16

Define monotheism.

Answer 16

Believing in a single God.

Question 17

According to Bruce, why’s fundamentalism confined to monotheistic religions?

Answer 17

Monotheist religions are very rigid and have one overriding through. Other religions which have a pantheon of Gods tend to have far more scope and are more accepting of change as they are open to many interpretations and views.

Question 18

Explain Bruce’s ‘2 fundamentalisms.’
In the West.
In the Third World.

Answer 18

In the West- usally develops as a result of changes occurring within their own societies. Eg. The Christian’s New Right in the USA.

In the Third World- Tends to develop as a response to ‘outsider’ cultures forcing change on these Third World societies (usalky Westerners impsoing on Easten Cultures) Eg. Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Question 19

Explain Davie’s 2 phases of modernity and how they give rise to different forms of fundamentalism? a

Answer 19

The first phase- religious fundamentalism- Enlightenment (late 18th century to 1960s) Power of science and reason led to secularisation. This growth in secularisation led to the growth of fundamentalism as a reaction to the new way of thinking.

The second phase- Secular Fundamentalism- from the 1970s- Enlightenment under attached mood of pessimism and uncertainty loss of faith in enlightenment people return to religious views and this results in fundamentalism.

Question 20

Why does David claim that secular ideologies are struggling for survival?

Answer 20

Secular ideologies struggles due to issues such as globalisation damage to the environment and so resort to nationalism and fundamentalism.

Question 21

Why might secular fundamentalism be seen as cultural racism?

Answer 21

Ansell (2000)
Uses universal equality and social integration as an excuse to exclude religious and cultural minorities.

Question 22

Lost Huntingtion’s 7 civilisations.

Answer 22

-Western
-Latin American
-Confucian
-Japanese
-Islamic
-Hindu
-Slavie-Orthodox

Question 23

How had globalisation led to increased conflict between religions?

Answer 23

This is happening more than ever because religion is becoming more important as a source of national identity. Globalisation means that civilisations are more likely to be in contact with each other means old conflicts re-emerge easier in the globalised world, religion creates an ‘us vs them’ mentality as competition for wealth and power grows on a global scale.

Question 24

According to Huntington, why are religious conflicts harder to resolve than political ones?

Answer 24

They are deeply rooted in culture and history. Huntington believes that the West threat and a ‘West vs the rest’ campaign is emerging and as such the West need to reassert their Christian Identity.

Question 25

Criticisms of Huntington’s clash of civilisations theory.

Answer 25

-Jackson 2006 sees Huntington’s work as an example of orientalism- a Wesrern ideology that stereotypes Easten nations.

-Casanova 2005 argues that Huntington’s view is simplistic and ignores important religious divisions.

-Horrie and Chippindale 2007 see the clash of civilisations as a grossly misleading neo-conservative ideology that portrays the whole of Islam as an enemy.

Question 26

Acceding to Inglehart and Norris, what’s the real clash of civilisations?

Answer 26

Religion and politics doesn’t cause a ‘clan of civilisations- it is attitudes to sexuality and gender liberalism that cause the real ‘clash’.

Question 27

What is meant by cultural defence?

Answer 27

This is where religion serves to unite a community against an external threat.

Question 28

Using the example of Poland and Iran, explain how religion may be used to defend national identity.

Answer 28

-Poland- From 1945 to 1989, Poland was under communist rule, imposed from outside by the soviet union- during this time the Catholic Church was suppressed but for many poles it continued to embody polish national identity.

-Iran- Western capitalist powers and oil companies had long influence in Iran, including involvement in the illegal overthrow of a democratic government in the 1950s to install a pro-western regime headed by Shah of Iran.

Question 29

What impact has globalisation had in India?

Answer 29

Brought about rapid economic growth and the emergence of an ultra-national Hindu middle class.

Question 30

According to Nanda, why has prosperity in India led to an increase in religiosity?

Answer 30

Middle classes use religion to ‘spiritually balance’ themselves easing any guilt they may feel at pursing a materialist lifestyle.

Question 31

How has Hinduism changed in response to the increased wealth of many Indians?

Answer 31

Hinduism no longer teaches that wealth accumulation is bad: gurus preach that material desire is a ‘manifestation of divinity’ which motivates people to be proactive in life.

Question 32

In what way can Hinduism be seen as a form of civil religion in India?

Answer 32

Hinduism represents the worship Indian society as a whole, 93% of indians see their country as superior to others and 85% of indians are Hindue; Hinduism forms the basis of Indian values.

Question 33

What problems might the link between Hinduism and the state cause for non-Hindus?

Answer 33

Non-Hindus may find themselves being oppressed or having Hindu ideas forced upon them (Eg. Hindu science, Hindu weapons and Hindu medicine.)

Question 34

According to Redding, what are the similarities between post-Confucian values and to the Calvinist values that encouraged capitalism in Europe?

Answer 34

East Asian Tiger economies of communities like China, Taiwan and Singapore have boomed in part due to modern or post confucian values emerging: these are similar to the old Calvinist Protestant work ethic and encourages wealth accumulation.

Question 35

According to Berger, in what way are pentecostal beliefs similar to Webber’s protestant ethic?

Answer 35

Pentecostalism demands an ascetic lifestyle in which people reject pleasure and commit time to work.

Question 36

Using the example of northern Brazil, explain why developmeh relies on more than pentecostal beliefs.

Answer 36

In Brazil the middle class are usally pentecostal however there are still problems with deprivation in Northern Brazil as it lacks the resources needed for economic development.

Question 37

Explain how Pentecostalism embraces both global and local elements.

Answer 37

Pentecostal thrives globally because it adapts to local customs making it popular with poor communities; it also uses global media to remind people that they’re part of a wider community.