religion and globalization Flashcards
Globalism
a condition in which the world is interconnected and interdependent
“new global” historians
the 1950s was the beginning of the contemporary current of globalization
everything before the 1950s wasn’t globalism, but “international exchange”
Friedman’s globalization phases
globalization 1.0 (1492-1800)
world shrank from large to medium
resources and conquest
2.0 (1800-2000)
medium to small
markets and labor
3.0 (2000-present)
small to tiny
driven by individuals and small groups
eurocentrism
globalization originating in Europe before expanding to the rest of the world
world systems theory
(Wallerstein)
does not view globalization as a recent phenomenon, but synonymous with the 1500s birth of world capitalism
uses the larger historical system or world society insteady of Marx’s class structures as a unit of analysis
world system theory 3 great regions
the core
powerful countries like Japan, the US
the periphery
subordinated to the core through colonialism or other means
Africa, Asia, Middle East
the semi-periphery
countries in the core that moved down or those in the periphery who moved up
Mauel Castell: network society theory
globalization is closely associated with the emergence of a “new age of information”
technologist approach to the global condition
views technological change as the manifestation of globalization
the current network society:
development of new information technology
information capitalism
cultural globalization
the intensification and expansion of cultural flows across the globe
spreading of ideas, symbols, practices
cultural homogenization versus heterogenization
pessimistic hyper globalization:
globalization is ending the world’s diversity
“westernization”
optimistic hyper globalization:
generates sameness, but that isn’t bad
westernization means the expansion of free markets and democracy
Ronald Robertson on culture and globalization
globalization can produce new forms of cultural expression
“glocalization”
there is an interaction of the global and local characterized by cultural borrowing
substantive approach to religion
focuses on the core essence or substance of religious belief
emphasis on “belief” and “sacredness” as fundamental elements
“community” is essential to religion
focuses on traditional forms of religion
functional approach to religion
focuses on what religion does and not what it is
religion serves as a function of helping us understand the purpose of life
any belief system that doesn’t address the meaning of life is not considered a religion
overlooks the supernatural
symbolic approach to religion
focuses on the role of key symbols
symbols are fundamental to the characteristics of religion
they serve as a blueprint to help individuals make sense of the world
not all symbols are religious
macro symbols help understand life’s deeper meaning, while micro symbols are used for daily communication
Emile Durkheim and religion
religion is social
society is accountable for the existence of religion
society is the religion of man
the supernatural does not exist
similar to the functionalist approach
believes in the sacred and the profane
defines magic and it’s utilitarian nature
Max Weber and religion
maintaining social order was once the task of prophets
with modernity, prophecy was transformed into something commonplace and the sacred social order is now produced by those with competence (charisma)
raltionalization created a world where gods were chased away
magical and supernatural elements were replaced by science, law, etc.
human logic and institutions take precedence
