Religion in the Age of Globalization Flashcards
further spreading of major world religions
- (i.e. eastern religion in America, Christianity growing in Africa)
- displaced persons (DP) of Jews from the Holocaust
the resurgence of religions in new forms
- branching out of religions, sects, etc.
- incorporating it in daily life
- clothing, customs, and dress
- Al Qaeda (Osama Bin Laden) - radical Islam
opposition of religions against secular and global modernization
- religions fundamentalism - challenged science (i.e. Darwinism)
- Anti-Americanism (anti-Christianity)
religion having a political role
- opposing liberal views (LGBT, abortion)
- Nativism (making countries have only that first original religion)
- Sharia law
- Islamic activists (Malcom X, Ali)
- Palestine region (Israel)
religious fundamentalism
- strict religious devotion that can be seen as defensive
- also seen as exclusive
- emerged because many religions felt threatened by the political world
- scientific and secular focus of modernity challenged the core beliefs of supernatural religion
- social upheavals connected with globalizaiton = upset the traditional class, family, and gender relationships
- nation-states (often associated with certain religions) = undermined by the global economy and influence of “alien” cultures
Christian fundamentalists in US
- outraged with: “scientific” and critical approaches to the Bible, Darwinian evolution, and liberal versions of Christianity
- wanted to get back to the “fundamentals” of Christianity
- literal truthfulness of the scriptures
- belief in the virgin birth and physical resurrection of Jesus
- belief in miracles
- came to oppose:
- political liberalism and “big government”
- the sexual revolution of the 1960s
- rights for the LGBT community
- abortion rights
India
- strong Hindu nation
- believed India was, and had always been, a Hindu land
- goal for India = to make ti purely Hindu nation again with a Hindu-based government
- opposed the existence of other religions, beliefs, etc. in India Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Secularists
Muslim
- disappointments within the Muslim world fueling Islamic renewal:
- “western” and secular policies not successful created overcrowded cities with few services, widespread unemployment, pervasive corruption, slow economic growth, and a widening gap between the rich and poor
- issues with the West that fueled Islamic renewal:
- a foreign presence still existed in the Muslim world even after decolonization. example: the creation of Israel in 1948
- increasing presence of Western culture that was offensive Barbie dolls, alcohol, scantily clad women, American movies, secular schools, etc.
- in their personal lives, many people became more religiously observant, attended mosque, prayed regularly, fasted, etc.
- many women adopted modest Islamic dress and the veil voluntary
- many governments sought to anchor themselves in Islamic rhetoric and practice
- creation of Muslim organizations that operated to provide social services that the state offered inadequately
- Islamic activists took leadership roles in unions and professional organizations
- another expression of Islamic renewal = sought the violent overthrow of what they saw as “compromised” regimes in the Muslim world
Al-Qaeda
- created by Osama bin Laden
- grew more radical when his homeland (Saudi Arabia) allowed the stationing of “Infidel” US troops in Islam’s holy land during and after the first American war against Iraq in 1992
- mid-1990s = he found a safe haven in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
- great enemies of AL-Qaeda = not Christianity itself or even western civilization, but:
- Irreligious Western-style modernity
- US imperialism
- an American led economic globalization
what were some perceived disadvantages to globalization in the Muslim world
- increased gap between the rich and the poor
- increased western influence
- increased American influence
what is the fundamentalist Islamic impression of the US
- scantily dressed women
- irreverent
- too powerful
which demonstrates increased interest in Islam
- increased prayer and visits to mosques
- women wearing veils
- adherence to fasts
what does alcohol have to do with fundamental Islam
- Muslim don’t drink or like this aspect of western culture
how is Islamic fundamentalism a response to the West
- distaste for western culture
- distaste for irreverent American culture
- distaste for the spread of American power
which groups formed because of Islamic fundamentalism
- Al Qaeda
- Hezbollah
how is fundamentalism demonstrated in the US
- opposition to big government
- opposition to the sexual revolution
- opposition to Darwin
which leader was overthrown in Egypt in 1981
- Hamas
what does American clothing styles have to do with fundamental Islam
- opposition to western influence
how is Islamic fundamentalism demonstrated in the Muslim world
- opposition to the West and America
how is fundamentalism demonstrated in India
- the goal of a purely Hindu nation
why did Osama Bin Laden form Al Qaeda
- response to Us presence in Iraq
what is an example of the spread of Buddhism
- increased interest in the US
- increased interest in meditation
- increased interest in yoga
how did globalization inflame fundamentalist Islam’s distaste for America
- increased American commerce
- increased American soft power
- increased western thought
how was the spread of major world religions affected by globalization
- the world was becoming smaller
- western products were distributed to other parts of the world
- westernization included western religions