the impact of technologies and globalisation on continuity and change Flashcards
what has buddhism always been?
a global religion
where did it expand quickly out of?
the Indian sub-continent and became one of the most recognisable religions on all continents.
how did Christianity and Islam grow?
grew through a combination of missionary activity, militancy (war) and colonialism
Buddhism grew by?
more naturally through the diffusion of its core principles of being in tune with human needs and desire.
Buddhism’s also shown itself to be
be adaptable to new cultures and circumstances, and has thus taken many different forms.
Buddhism has grown to become the largest
non-Christian in Australia without any missionary activity.
The dominant form in AUs is
Mahayana because of the extensive immigration to Australia from SE Asia after the Vietnam War
It’s become the religion of more than
1 in 30 Australians.
why are Religion and technology awkward partners ?
religion is about the past, technology is about now and the future
Christianity has been opposed to
scientific advances (origins of the world/evolution, medical bioethics, influence of social media on young people)
but Buddhism has a more
more relaxed view to technology
why does it have more relaxed view to tech?
partly because it is less doctrine oriented (no bible, Qaran) and less authoritarian and permits people to find their own answers to the ethical questions of life
Modern technology is seen as
positive to the Buddhist way of life because it allows for the development of Buddhist social media
So, while the idea of online spirituality might present problems for
the average Christian or Muslim authority
what has become a growing industry?
online Buddhism
