Globalisation and religion

Question 1

evidence of globalisation

Answer 1

> countries increasingly trade with each other
movement of people across the world is much more fluid due to transport
the spread of technology has increased communication

Question 2

Meera Nanda: Hinduism in modern India

Answer 2

her study shows despite globalisation and threats religion faces, beliefs in some parts of the world are stronger than ever.
> 85% of India’s population practise Hinduism
> 30% of people in India claimed to have become more religious over time.
> religiosity appears to be stronger among the educated, professional emerging middle class.
> as the emerging middle class in India gain wealth, their Hindu values remind them is must not take up all of their life and create greed - this is called a ‘spiritual, material balance’.
> Hinduism is adopting to modernisation in India, for example Hindu sciences in school include astrology.
> Nanda therefore shows that religion can adapt to keep up with change in society.
EVALUATION - Nanda study is difficult to make generalisations from, we cannot be sure if this is just coincidence, or if relationship of cause and effect exists.

Question 3

The growth and spread of religious fundamentalism across the world

Answer 3

religious fundamentalism emerges where traditional beliefs and values by major religions are challenged or threatened.
> the threat may come from the invasion of one country by another - fundamentalism is a means of responding to the threats and is a product of globalisation.
> fundamentalism often forms in reaction to ‘cosmopolitanism’ (rejects and attempts to reverse change taking place in society such as attitudes towards sexuality, abortion etc.)
> in todays society people views are justified by logic and scientific arguments, in contrast fundamentalism relies solely on religious scriptures etc.

Question 4

Steve Bruce (2008)

Answer 4

Bruce says that fundamentalism tends to exist in religions where there is belief in a single, all-powerful god or ‘monotheism’.
> Religions such as Hinduism are less likely to have fundamentalism as it accepts multiple Gods which allows for greater interpretation of beliefs - however for religions like Christianity and Islam, a belief in a single God means they must follow.
Fundamentalism in the West:
> fundamentalist groups in the West form as a specific reaction against liberal views that undermine Gods will- For example homosexuals are refuted by The Christian right in the USA.
Fundamentalism in the developing world:
> in the developing world fundamentalism is a reaction to cultural imperialism, as Western culture spreads there can be a perception that religious beliefs are being attacked, so fundamentalism forms as a means of re-asserting beliefs.

Question 5

Grace Davie (2013) Secular fundamentalism

Answer 5

broadens term ‘fundamentalism’ to the way in which some countries attempts to keep religion out of social life becomes itself a form of fundamentalism, especially if beliefs are perceived to threaten the ‘way of life’ in a secular country.

Question 6

Samuel Huntington (2002) Religion and the clash of civilisations

Answer 6

discusses the great conflicts across the world that exist and how many of these are directly related to religion.
> globalisation makes nation-states less secure in themselves
> they once provided a stable source of identity, but this is no longer the case.
> religion has increasingly filled the identity gap, giving people a source of identity that can clash with other peoples - Islamic Extremism for example, is considered to be a huge threat and one that needs tackling, in Huntington’s view, Christianity needs to re-assert itself.
EVALUATION - makes ignorant generalisations about religion, he is accused of making things worse by sweeping generalisations.
EVALUATION - misunderstands the true source of global conflict, he says religion is the source of conflict between the west and middle east, whereas in actual fact its the government foreign policy that may be to blame.