globalisation and new age movements

Question 1

what is globalisation?

Answer 1

• the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and barriers are disappearing
• has led to a great increase of movements, ideas and beliefs across national boundaries
• in our postmodern society, media and technology provide us with images and messages around the world

Question 2

globalisation and religion

Answer 2

• allows us to learn about ideas and beliefs of religions around the world
• media has lifted people out of physical churches
• the ‘electronic church’ means people can explore their faith without going to church
• religion has become de-institutionalised

Question 3

what is postmodernism?

Answer 3

• since the late 20th century (1980s-) society has entered a new ‘postmodern phase’
• postmodern society has two characteristics:
  1. diversity and fragmentation
  2. rapid social change

Question 4

postmodernist view - religious consumerism

(DANIELE HERVIEW-LEGER)

(DAVID LYON)

Answer 4

• DANIELE HERVIEW-LEGER says we act as ‘spiritual shoppers’ by choosing religious beliefs to meet our specific needs
• DAVID LYON says we are becoming religious ‘consumers’ who make conscious choices about which elements of religion we find useful
• LYON, therefore, argues religion and spirituality are not disappearing, they are evolving to fit the consumerist nature

Question 5

PETER L. BERGER - the problem with multiple religions

Answer 5

• says having a variety of religious products to choose from has led to a loss of faith in traditional religions
• it weakens traditional religions that claim monopoly over the truth - and that exposure to competing religions makes people skeptical of all of them
• traditional mainstream churches have lost their authority

Question 6

what is the new age movement?

Answer 6

• include a diverse range of beliefs and practices that have grown rapidly since 1980s, which reject external authority and traditional sources of religion (church, priests etc)
• think we can discover the truth for ourselves by following a personal spiritual path and exploring your inner self
• focus on individualism - individuals are free to choose what is true by picking and mixing religious ideas
• ‘self spirituality’ / ‘self religion’

Question 7

DAVID LYON - ‘re-enchantment’

Answer 7

• new forms of religion (new age beliefs) reject obligation and obedience to an authority
• increased focus on individualism
• does not believe society is becoming more secular
• we are in a period of re-enchantment
• growth of unconventional beliefs, practices and spirituality
• traditional forms of religion have declined, but the importance of non-traditional religion in the west still stands

Question 8

what is the spiritual revolution?

Answer 8

• some sociologists argue that a social revolution is taking place
• traditional Christianity is giving way to holistic spirituality
• growth of a spiritual market - increase of self help / spiritual books
• increase in practitioners who offer consultations, courses and therapies
• spiritualists view life as a discovery, instead of a duty

Question 9

HEELAS AND WOODHEAD - declining religion study

Answer 9

• studied kendal (columbria) to see if traditional religion has declined
• traditional churches were loosing support but evangelical churches were thriving
• NAMs also growing
• new age spirituality has grown because of the shift away from doing your duty and obeying external authority to exploring your inner self
• traditional religion is declining as it demands duty and obedience
• evangelical churches also emphasise the importance of spiritual healing and personal growth

Question 10

STEVE BRUCE - the problem with NAMs

Answer 10

• have to be on a larger scale to fill the gap of the decline in traditional religion
• beliefs must be passed down, and most NAM women are childless
• serious commitment is low
• it is individualistic, so cannot achieve consensus about beliefs

Question 11

NORRIS AND INGLEHART - existential security theory

Answer 11

• existential security (the feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted) is the reason for different degrees of religion
• societies where people already feel secure have low levels of religion
• poor societies where people face life threatening risks are more religious
• welfare protects people, meaning secure societies have no need for religion

Question 12

GILL AND LUNDSGAARDE - religiosity and the welfare state

Answer 12

• support norris and ingleharts view
• found that the more a country spends on welfare, the less religious they will be
• european countries are more secular than the USA as they spend more on welfare
• do not expect religion to disappear completely, as welfare does not answer life’s questions

Question 13

STARK AND BAINBRIDGE - developing countries

Answer 13

• claim that demand of religion is greatest from low-income groups and societies because they are less secure
• explains why poor developing countries remain religious, while prosperous countries are more secular