Postmodern criticisms Flashcards
Post modernism has underestimated the importance of traditional religion
eg Islam is the fastest growing religion in the UK and there are still over 1 billion Catholics in the world. In fact, traditional religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are probably more popular than ever in society. Even in Western Europe, Davie says the attachment people still have to traditional religion can be seen when people use the church for rites of passage ceremonies.
Post modernists have exaggerated the influence of modern media in converting people to new religious beliefs
Bruce says there is little evidence that global media is introducing more people to different religious beliefs and those religions that use the media are mainly preaching to the converted
New Religious Movements and New Age Movements are insignificant organisations when compared to the power and influence of the major world religions
These sects and cults are relatively small in number and indicate the break up and fragmentation of religion rather than a religious revival in the country. Bruce describes them as fairly weak religions that fail to exert a major influence on most people’s lives and identities
exaggerated the rise of individualism
Huntington says religious identity is becoming more important as a way of people distinguishing themselves from others in a multicultural, global society. For example, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus use their religion as a way of declaring their ethnic and cultural differences from other groups in society
