Religion in a global context

Question 1

What is religious fundamentalism?

Answer 1

Traditionalists who seek to return to the basics/fundamentalists of their faith. They believe there is one true view of the world which is only revealed in a sacred text. E.G Sharia Law.

Question 2

According to who, what are the two types of fundamentalism?

Answer 2

Bruce.
Individual - response to interna threats from within. (abortion)
Communal - response to external threats from the outside. (westoxification)

Question 3

What is patriarchy and what’s an example? (2)

Answer 3

Traditional values
instrumental role.
E.G: Taliban, no more education for girls.

Question 3

What does PUMAPAC stand for?

Answer 3

Patriarchy
Us vs them mentality
Modern technology
Authoritative sacred text
Prophecy
Aggressive
Charismatic leader

Question 4

What is us vs them mentality and what’s an example? (2)

Answer 4

Friends and enemies
Strong duality.
E.G: The west are the enemy against Islamic fundamentalist group.

Question 5

What is modern technology and what’s an example? (2)

Answer 5

Against modernity but still use technology.
Targeting young people who are vulnerable.
E.G: Colour of the logo is female friendly to recruit women.

Question 6

What is authoritative sacred text and what’s an example? (2)

Answer 6

No one should turn away from the word of God.
Literal meanings from Holy books.
E.G: Westboro Baptist Church protest - using signs to save Americans.

Question 7

What is prophecy? (2)

Answer 7

Prediction of the future
Preparing us for the end of the world.

Question 8

What is aggressive and what’s an example? (3)

Answer 8

Abuse, violence.
Acts of terror.
Videos of people being tortured.
E.G: Manchester Bombing.

Question 9

What is charismatic leader and what’s an example? (1)

Answer 9

Very committed and devoted.
Pastor Phelps.

Question 10

What are the four explanations for the emergence of fundamentalism?

Answer 10

Cultural defence
Modernity and globalisation
Monotheism
Social changes in modern society.

Question 11

What is cultural defence and who argues this?

Answer 11

Catells.
Fundamentalism arises when religion serves as a defence mechanism to unite a community against an external threat. So they form a resistance identity.

Question 12

What are contemporary examples of cultural defence? (2)

Answer 12

Taliban
Iranian revolution

Question 13

What is criticisms of cultural defence? (2)

Answer 13

Causes conflict
Radical feminism highlights patriarchal ideas. (regressive change)

Question 14

What is modernity annd globalisation and who argues this? (3)

Answer 14

Giddens.
People are faced with lots of choice, uncertainty and risk.
Cosmopolitanism - a way of thinking to embrace modernity and is open to the view of others.
Fundamentalists react against a globalised world and they restore cultural amnesia.

Question 15

What are criticisms of modernity and globalisation? (2)

Answer 15

Beck: hybrid movements are ignored (between cosmopolitanism and fundamentalism) He sees all fundamentalist groups as the same.
Haynes: Fundamentalism is not always a reaction to globalisation - it can be local.

Question 16

What is monotheism and fundamentalism and who argues this? (2)

Answer 16

Bruce
Monotheistic religions have more potential for developing fundamentalist groups than others. They claim to have a monopoly of truth.
Polytheistic religions lack a single authoritative text so there’s much more scope for different interpretations. They are open to any ideas.

Question 17

What are social changes in modern society and who argues this?

Answer 17

Bruce
Fundamentalist movements have different origins and some are triggered by changes taking place within their own society.
Fundamentalism is most often a reaction to change taking place within a society. E.G: Westboro Baptist Church.

Question 18

What does Huntington argue? (2)

Answer 18

There is a clash on civilisations. Shared religions create social cohesion within civilisations but can cause conflict between them.
Globalisation has increased the likelihood of conflict as a result of religious differences.
This then creates an us vs them relationship with increased competition between them.

Question 19

What is an example of clash of civilisations? (3)

Answer 19

9/11.
Al Qaeda wanted to create a clash with the US to unite the world’s Muslims and have a common enemy.
Palestinian children didn’t have food or clean water and children were dying everyday.

Question 20

What is the evaluation of Huntington’s work? (3)

Answer 20

Only a tiny minority of the world’s Muslims are remotely interested in a holy war against the West.
Bias - critics argue that Huntington’s work is anti-muslim/anti-islam.
Armstrong: sees hostility towards the west as a reaction to western foreign policy in the Middle east rather than stemming from fundametalist islam.

Question 21

What is an example of a fundamentalist group and what do they do? (4)

Answer 21

Westboro Baptist Church
They first gained recognition when they protested at a funeral of Matthew Shepherd whp was murdered bevaise he was gay. They wanted to make God punish people who tolerate homosexuality.
They reject all forms of liberal thinking and interpret holy texts literally to justify their actions.

Question 22

What is secular fundamentalism?

Answer 22

It refers to a new form of an atheist approach to secularism, religion and politics. E.G: Nationalism.

Question 23

How can secular fundamentalism be criticised? (2)

Answer 23

Takes away the right for women to choose (religious forms of feminism)
Contributes to discrimination.

Question 24

What did Nanda argue? (3)

Answer 24

There has been rapid economic growth which brought rising prosperity to India’s middle class.
There is Hindu Ultra-nationalism where Hindue are constantly promoted by the media. Worshipping Hindu Gods is the same as worshipping the nation of India which is like civil religion.
But ithere may be a fusion of religion and nationalism threatens India’s secular make-up and causes a divide between Hindus and non-Hindus.

Question 25

What does Lehmann argue?

Answer 25

Christianity accompanied colonisation and imposed their beliefs on others. The use of Pentecostalism incorporates local beliefs and new local religious forms are created.
Africanisation fo Christianity: African cultures are mixed with Christian beliefs which shows local diversity.

Question 26

What are strengths of globalisation on religion? (3)

Answer 26

It has allowed individuals to have social mobility (growing merging middle class) - leads to economic growth.
Civil religion unites Indians, heightening feelings of being patriotic.
Cultural transition (fitting into host cultures)

Question 27

What are criticisms of globalisation on religion? (2)

Answer 27

Negative international impacts. Jobs are being relocated.
Can create conflict and fundamentalism (Hindus vs non-Hindus)