religion in a global context

Question 1

characteristics of fundamentalism

Answer 1

an authoritative sacred text
an 'us and them' mentality
aggressive reaction 
use of modern technology
patriarchy

Question 2

what is an authoritative sacred text?

Answer 2

for christian fundamentalists, every word of the bible is literally true and externally valid, with the answers to all life’s important questions

the text is inerrant and not open to questioning

christian fundamentalism requires belief in virgin birth of christ and bodily resurrection, only those who accept these as historical facts are true christians

but this is just an interpretation

Question 3

what is an ‘us and them’ mentality?

Answer 3

fundamentalists separate themselves from the rest of the world and refuse to compromise with it

they seek to establish islands of certainty against social and cultural chaos

Question 4

what is an aggressive reaction?

Answer 4

aggressive reaction to the threat to their beliefs and values, intended to shock, intimidate or cause harm

Question 5

what is use of modern technology?

Answer 5

to achieve their aims, e.g. the internet, televangelism and modern weapony

Question 6

how is patriarchy a characteristic of fundamentalism?

Answer 6

fundamentalists seek to control women’s sexuality, reproductive powers and social and economic roles

Question 7

how is fundamentalism related to modernity?

Answer 7

fundamentalism occurs where those who hold traditional beliefs and values are threatened by modernity and feel the need to defend themselves against it

fundamentalism is a product of globalisation, which undermines traditional social norms concerning the nuclear family, gender and sexuality

Question 8

what is cosmopolitanism?

Answer 8

a way of thinking that embraces modernity, is tolerant, open and constantly reflects on a modifies beliefs

sees lifestyle as a personal choice, not something dictated by an external religious authority, emphasises the pursuit of personal meaning and self-improvement rather than submission to authority

Question 9

who is associated with cosmopolitanism?

Answer 9

giddens sees fundamentalism as a reaction to modernity, which undermines traditional norms

he contrasts this with cosmopolitanism

Question 10

criticisms of giddens

Answer 10

claims fundamentalism is a reaction against modernity, but ‘reinventing tradition’ as fundamentalists do is itself a modern, reflexive activity

lumps all typed of fundamentalism together, ignoring important differences

Question 11

how is monotheism related to fundamentalism

Answer 11

however, bruce regards fundamentalism as being confined to monotheistic religions (Judaism, islam, christianity), polytheistic religions (hinduism) that believe in many gods are unlikely to produce fundamentalism

monotheistic religion based on a notion of God’s will as revealed through a single authoritative sacred text which contains that actual word of god

polytheistic religions lack a single all-powerful deity and a single authoritative test so more scope for different interpretations and none has an over-riding claim to absolute truth

Question 12

what are the two fundamentalisms

Answer 12

bruce says while fundamentalists share the same characteristics, different fundamentalist movements have different origins

in the west: fundamentalism is usually a reaction to change within society e.g. trend towards diversity and choice. NCR developed in opposition to family diversity, gender equality, secular education

in the third world: fundamentalism is a reaction to changes being thrust on a society from outside, e.g. western values imposed by foreign capitalism, fundamentalism is resistance to the state’s attempts to reduce social influence of religion

Question 13

secular fundamentalism

Answer 13

davie argues we are seeing the rise of secular fundamentalism as a result of changes in the nature of modern society

Question 14

secular fundamentalism

Answer 14

davie argues we are seeing the rise of secular fundamentalism as a result of changes in the nature of modern society

Question 15

what are the two phases of modernity?

Answer 15

davie
first phase: from 18th century enlightenment to 1960s, the enlightenment project held an optimistic belief in the certainty of progress based on science and human reason
helped to secularise all areas of social life, undermining religious certainties, religious fundamentalism was a reaction to secularisation process

second phase: giving rise to secular fundamentalism, since 1970s there has been a growing mood of pessimism, uncertainty and insecurity caused by changes such as globalisation
led to a loss of faith in major secular enlightenment ideologies such a liberalism and marxism whose balms to truth and belief in progress have been undermined

Question 16

the result of modernity

Answer 16

as a result these secular ideologies have come under attack and some people have been attracted to anti-religious fundamentalism e.g. France made it illegal to wear the veil in public

Ansell sees trends as a form of cultural racism that uses seemingly ‘liberal’ language of equality and integration, in reality about legitimating exclusion of religious or cultural minorities

davie says both religious and secular movements can become fundamentalist due to greater uncertainties of the postmodern world, where reasserting truth and certainty is increasingly attractive

Question 17

what is cultural defence?

Answer 17

religion unites a community against an external threat and this often gives it a prominent role in politics, religion has special significance for its followers because it symbolises the group or society’s collective identity

Question 18

examples of religion as cultural defence

Answer 18

Poland: from 1945 to 1989, was under communist rule imposed by Soviet Union, Catholic Church did not always challenge the communist regime openly, but served as popular rallying point for opposition e.g. actively supporting the solidarity free trade union movement that contributed to the fall of communism

Iran: western capitalist power and oil companies had influence in Iran, pro-western regime headed by the Shah, successor of rapid modernisation and westernisation policies, islam was the focus for resistance to change and the Shah, 1979 revolution creation of the islamic republic and clergy held state power and imposed law

Question 19

effect of globalisation in India

Answer 19

globalisation has brought rapid economic growth in India and rising prosperity to a new middle class

(nanda) 85% of the population are Hindu, which legitimates the rise of a new hindu ‘ultra-nationalism’ and prosperity of the Indian middle class

Question 20

hinduism and consumerism

Answer 20

secularisation theory says middle class are more secular but Indians are becoming more religious and urban, educated Indians are more religious than rural, less literate Indians

Nanda says increasing religiosity is result of middle class’ ambivalence about their newfound wealth, stemming from tension between their new prosperity and hindu belief in renouncing materialism

Question 21

how does hinduism resolve Indian’s tensions?

Answer 21

modern holy men and tele-gurus who preach the message that desire is not bad, but a manifestation of divinity that motivates people to do things

these business-friendly versions of hinduism legitimate the position of the middle class and allow them to adjust to globalised consumer capital

Question 22

pentecostalism in Latin America

Answer 22

Berger says pentecostalism in Latin America acts as a functional equivalent to weber’s protestant ethic, encouraging development of capitalism in the same way as Calvinism

pentecostalism demands an ascetic way of life, emphasising personal discipline and hard work, encourages members to prosper and become upwardly mobile

thus in Chile and southern Brazil, there is a growing and prosperous pentecostalist middle class leading capitalist development

agrees with weber, religious not enough for economic development, natural resources also needed, pentecostalism has grown in northern Brazil but lacks resources and remains backward