Fundamentalism And Secularisation Flashcards
Who defines fundamentalism
Almond
Definition of fundamentalism
Pattern religious militancy by which self-styles true believers attempt to arrest the erosion of religious identity…and create a viable alternative to secular institutions and behaviour
Fundamentalist characteristics
Believe set religious beliefs been watered down or under threat
Opposed to decline of belief wish to return to original, fundamental beliefs of own religion
Often return to original text
Us vs Them mentality
Response to general decline influence of religion in the world or secularisation
How is fundamentalism source conflict
Causes conflict other groups
Who they see as a threat
Likely cause conflict other followers same religion, who do not share same interpretation
How is fundamentalism seen as a response to change
Seeks reverse change already taken place
Conservative in terms of preserving traditional values
Radical terms of seeking social change
How is the New Christian Right an example of fundamentalism
Protestant fundamentalist group USA
Radical Christian’s large following of literal interpretation
How is Al Qaeda an example of fundamentalism
Muslim group led by Osama Bin Laden, origination Saudi Arabia/Afghanistan
World wide following, responsible terrorist attacks
How is Hamas an example of fundamentalism
Palestinian Muslim fundamentalists
Elected to power Gaza strip opposed to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Fought wars with Israel
How is the BJP an example of fundamentalism
Hindu fundamentalist group India
Believe India should be run along Hindu religious lines rather than secularisation recognising all religious minorities
How does Fundamentalism link with Secularisation
Religion and modernisation in which science and rationality are favoured tend to undermine traditional religious faith
When is fundamentalism more likely to develop
Single scared text that can be argued over
Lacks centralised authoritarian control without which is easier alternative interpretations of religion develop
Common enemy
Ready supply potential recruits
Little opportunity express grievances through legitimate politics
Example of a fundamentalist common enemy
Muslim fundamentalism = USA and Israel
Example of a ready supply of potential recruits fundamentalism
Hamas drew on large numbers impoverished, unemployed young men in Palestine
Example of where there was little opportunity express grievances through legitimate politics
Israeli Revolution 1979
Fundamentalism tends to turn more radical
Who agrees fundamentalism can be caused by secularisation and modernisation
Almond
How else does Almond see Fundamentalism caused
Low levels education, high risks inequality Displacement by wars Economic problems Chance events e.g. Poor harvest Western imperialism Effective leadership
What is Western Imperialism
Develop among those opposed US involvements religion
Who looks in to Islam and the West
Armstrong
What did Armstrong find the cause of Fundamentalism was in Islam and the West
Not Islamic religion, it is attempts to impose modernisation too rapidly without concern for welfare of poor
Built resentments
Led growth Islamic fundamentalism
Who researched in to religious market theory
Stark and Bainbridge
Why does the Religious Market Theory CRITICISE secularisation
Criticise secularisation for distorted view there was no past golden age of religion and it is not likely everyone will be atheist in the future
What is the religious market theory
Competition leads improvement of quality of religious ‘goods’ on offer
More product attractive = more customers
Demand religion increases when there is a choice. America= religion strong as a healthy market grow and decline accordingly Europe = monopoly led to decline
Criticism of the religious market theory
Norris and Inglehart:
High levels of religious participation exist in Catholic countries where the Church has a near monopoly e.g Venezuela
Why does the Existential Security Theory reject the religious market theory
It only applies to America, fails to consider variations in religiosity between societies
What is the Existential Security Theory
Not different degrees religious choice, but different degrees existential security ‘feeling survival secure enough it can be taken for granted’
Meets need security = higher poor countries
Explains for prosperous West more secular
Why is Western Europe becoming more secular
Societies relatively equal, and secure, well developed welfare states, reduces insecurity among poor where as USA remain religious
What do Gill and Lundergaarde argue about secularisation
More a country spends on welfare, lower level of religious particiaption
Evaluation of Existential Security Theory
Norris and Inglehart
Only see religion as a negative response to deprivation, ignore positive reasons people have religious participation
