Globalisation and Religion Flashcards
What 3 types of evidence are there to suggest that there has been a rise in religious behaviour
in many other parts of the world?
1) Islam = world’s fastest growing religion, 2nd largest religion, but if trends continue it will be world’s largest religion by mid-21st century
2) Pentecostalism = fastest growing Christian religion especially in Africa + South America.
3) Fundamentalism =on rise among all major world religions, e.g. Islam, New Christian Right, etc
What are the 2 reactions to globalisation mixing with religion?
When faced with globalisation, religion provides defensive reaction can lead to international conflict.
Religion can react to globalisation positively via proactive reaction, can enhance country’s economic development.
List all the relevant sociologists
Giddens Bruce Baumann, Castells Davie Bruce 9 cultural defence) Huntington Nanda Redding Berger and Lehmann
Defensive reaction to Globalisation - Fundamentalism - Giddens
Giddens defines fundamentalists as traditionalists who seek a return to basics of religion that believe in literal teachings of scriptures + claim to hold monopoly of religious truth.
Fundamentalism is a response to globalisation.
Globalisation undermines traditional social norms by providing people w/ choice, but also carrying increasing uncertainty.
In response to uncertainty, individuals are attracted to fundamentalism as it offers certainty.
Even though fundamentalists detest modernity, they use modern methods to spread their message, e.g. Internet, digital TV channels, mobile phones, etc.
Giddens’ argument can be exemplified with Islamic fundamentalism, e.g. Bali bombings.
On the other hand, cosmopolitanism, in contrast to fundamentalism, embraces modernity, is tolerant of others, uses rational explanations and arguments.
Defensive reaction to Globalisation - Fundamentalism - Beck
Argues fundamentalism =caused by perception of religious traditionalists that globalisation threatens their beliefs.
But, he argues that only monotheistic religions develop fundamentalist branches because they have single God + 1 sacred text.
He between fundamentalism in the West + LEDCs.
Western fundamentalism = reaction to changes in society ie)as increasing diversity, choice + uncertainty of modernity, e.g. New Christian Right in the USA is opposed to family diversity, homosexuality, gender equality, abortion, secular education.
LEDCs =fundamentalism is reaction to changes being from outside, e.g. Iranian revolution of 1979. Triggered by modernisation + globalisation where Western values =imposed on the local customs.
Defensive reaction to Globalisation - Fundamentalism - Baumann
Baumann sees fundamentalism =response to living in PM society which brings freedom of choice, but also risk + uncertainty.
Some embrace it, others turn to fundamentalism which offers certainty.
Baumann’s ideas can be exemplified with New Christian Right – Christian fundamentalism in the USA.
Defensive reaction to Globalisation - Fundamentalism - Castell
Castells distinguishes between 2 possible reactions to postmodernity:
Resistant identity – a defensive reaction to globalisation and withdrawal into fundamentalism.
Project identity – those who are forward looking and turn to social movements such as feminism or environmentalism.
Defensive reaction to Globalisation - Fundamentalism - Davie
Argues religious fundamentalism emerged in early stages of modernity as a result of Enlightenment during which secular, scientific ways to looking at the world developed. However, those who felt their identity was being undermined, turned to religious fundamentalism.
Recently, there’s been an emergence of secular fundamentalism which has emerged as result of changes in modern society.
Since 1970s, there’s been a loss of optimism about the Enlightenment project as people have realised science isn’t going to solve our problems, it’s actually creating problems for us ie) nuclear weapons, global warming, etc. These problems are causing uncertainty and a loss of faith in liberalism and rationalism.
Result = people have turned to non-religious types of fundamentalism ie) nationalism, the growth of the far right (alt right) in the USA, banning of the veil in France and the building of minarets in Switzerland.
Criticisms of the defnsive reaction
Giddens ignores the hybrid movements which merge traditionalism with cosmopolitanism.
He ignores the differences between different types of fundamentalisms.
