Religion in a Global Context Flashcards
How does religious fundamentalism arise according to Davies?
Fundamentalism arises when traditional values and beliefs are threatened by modernity. People feel a need to defend themselves due to threats such as the penetration of Western culture or new secular ideas like liberal attitudes to sexuality.
What are the characteristics of religious fundamentalism?
- Authoritative sacred text that gives a literal truth
- ‘Us vs Them’ mentality, separated from rest of the world
- Aggressive reaction
- Use of modern technology
- Patriarchy where women’s sexuality and choices are controlled
- Prophecy ‘end of days’
- Conspiracy ‘anti-semtisim’
How does religious fundamentalism arise according to Giddens?
Fundamentalism is a product of globalisation, in today’s modern society we experience a lot of uncertainty and risk, therefore fundamentalisms dogmatic beliefs and faith-based retreat provides certainty in a globalising world.
What is cosmopolitanism according to Giddens?
A way of thinking that embraces modernity and globalisation, it is tolerant of the new ideas and beliefs of the population. Emphasis on personal choice and rational argument rather than appealing to sacred texts/external forces.
What does Bauman see fundamentalism as a response to?
Fundamentalism is a response to living in a post-modern society where there is freedom of choice, uncertainty and a heightened awareness of risk. However, many are attracted to the freedom of postmodernity.
What are the two responses (identities) to post modernity according to Castells?
- Resistance identity: those who feel threatened by post modernity and retreat to fundamentalism
- Project identity: those who engage in social movements like feminism and environmentalism
Evaluate the arguments for the causes of fundamentalism?
- Distinguishes too sharply between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism, ignoring ‘hybrid’ movements.
- Giddens ignores differences between fundamentalist groups, lumps together
- Giddens doesn’t consider a return to tradition as a reflective rather than defensive action.
- Haynes says islamic fundamentalism isn’t always a reaction against globalisation but a reaction to local elites failing to deliver on promises to improve the standard of living.
What does Bruce regard fundamentalism as being confined to?
Bruce shares similarity with Giddens as he believes that fundamentalism arises because religious traditionalists believe that globalisation threatens their belief.
Bruce believes fundamentalism is confined to monotheistic religions as they are based off of the notion of one God and one sacred text. Polytheistic religions lack a single all powerful deity, so there are more different interpretations.
What is ‘Western fundamentalism’ and ‘Third World fundamentalism’ according to Bruce?
- Western fundamentalism: a reaction to change in society, especially towards diversity and secular choices. EG: The New Christian Right who opposed abortion, homosexuality and divorce and wanted to restore religion to a public role by shaping laws and morals.
- Third world fundamentalism: a reaction to changes being thrust upon a society from outside. EG: Islam Revolution was triggered by modernisation and globalisation where Western values were imposed by foreign capitalism/local elites supported by the West.
What is secular fundamentalism according to Davie?
- In the first phase was the Enlightenment which held an optimistic secular view about the power of science and human reason, this undermined religious certainties and so religious fundamentalism was a reaction to this.
- In the second phase enlightenment itself became under attack due to growing pessimism and uncertainty caused by globalisation and environmental issues and the fall of communism. This led to a loss in faith in secular ideologies like liberalism and Marxism, so these ideologies struggled just like traditional religions. The supporters of these ideologies then became attracted to fundamentalism.
EG: In France, challenges to liberal secular values provoked a secular fundamentalist reaction such as the banning of religious symbols like headscarves and burka. - Overall, both religious+secular fundamentalism arise because of uncertainties in the post-modern world, competing fundamentalisms have become normal.
What is the clash of civilisations according to Huntington?
- Religion has been the centre of a number of global conflicts (9/11), these attacks aren’t due to fundamentalism but rather the nations themselves.
- There are 7 civilisations: Western, Islamic, Latin American, Confucian, Japanese, Hindu and Slavic-Orthodox.
- They are closely identified with a traditional religion.
- Religious differences are a major source of conflict and globalisation has made the contacts between the civilisations easier, increasing the likelihood of conflict and leading to an us vs them mentality.
- Huntington assumes all muslims are in a holy war and believes rise in Islamic fundamentalism is a reaction to Western civilisation.
How are Huntington’s views evaluated?
- Jackson sees his work as orientalist, it is a Western ideology that stereotypes Eastern nations and people as untrustworthy in order to justify human rights abuses and exploitation from the West.
- Casanova says it ignores divisions within civilisations such as Sunni and Shi-a Islam.
- Horrie and Chippindale see the theory as a grossly misleading Neo-conservative ideology that portrays the whole of Islam as an enemy when only a minority fight in religious fuelled wars.
What is cultural defence according to Bruce?
Religion unites a community against external threats, this is due to how religion can symbolise the union itself between people.
Poland Case Study
- From 1945-1989 Poland was under Communist rule imposed by the Soviet Union. During this time, the Catholic Church was suppressed, but for many Poles it continued to embody Polish national identity. The Church was a popular rallying point for opposition to the Soviet Union and Polish Communist party.
- The Church lent active support to the Solidarity Free Trade Union movement that did much to bring about the fall of the communist regime.
Iran Case Study
- Western Powers and Big Oil companies had long influence in Iran, including the overthrowing of democratic government in the 1950’s to establish a pro-west regime.
- This rule included modernisation and westernisation, there was the banning of the veil and replacement of the Muslim calendar, as well as the widening of the gap between the rich and poor.
- This change was imposed rapidly causing great suffering and so Islam became a focus for resistance.
- The revolution of 1979 brought the introduction of the Islamic Republic where clerics held state power and were able to impose Sharia Law.
