Topic 5: Religion in a global context: Flashcards
Key word:
What are religious fundamentalists?
People/ groups who strictly follow their faith interpreting texts literally.
Religious fundamentalism:
What do religious fundamentalists want?
They want to return to the core beliefs as the modern world challenge their traditional views.
Religious fundamentalism:
Key features of religious fundamentalism e.g. An authoritative sacred text (use sociologist)
Fundamentalists are intolerant of other interpretations of their text. They are literal.
Aldridge (2013) - don’t believe in symbolism.
Religious fundamentalism:
Key features of religious fundamentalism e.g. An ‘us and them’ mentality
They separate themselves from the world - see the world as disorderly.
Religious fundamentalism:
Key features of religious fundamentalism e.g. patriarchy (use sociologist)
Hawley (1994) - fundamentalists make laws that control women’s reproduction and social role.
Religious fundamentalism:
Why do people become religious fundamentalists? (use sociologists)
Davie (2013) argues that fundamentalism comes when traditional beliefs are threatened.
Giddens (1999) fundamentalism reacts to globalisation - as globalisation provides change and with that uncertainty whereas religious fundamentalism gives them fixed beliefs meaning its easier to understand the world.
Key word:
What does Cosmopolitan mean?
Means being open to different ideas/ beliefs.
Cosmopolitanism:
How does cosmopolitanism contrast with fundamentalism? (use sociologist)
Giddens contrasts cosmopolitanism, which embraces open thinking, with fundamentalism, which sticks traditional beliefs.
Cosmopolitanism:
What are religious fundamentalists responses to post-modernity (use sociologists)
Bauman (1992) argues that fundamentalism is a response to the uncertainty of postmodernity as this kind of society offers too much choice whereas religion is fixed.
Castells (2010) There are two responses to post-modernity with fundamentalists with resistance identity (rejecting new ideas/beliefs) and project identity (embracing new ideas/beliefs).
Cosmopolitanism:
Criticisms of the responses to post-modernity (use sociologist)
Beckford (2011) Giddens oversimplifies the divide between cosmopolitanism and fundamentalism e.g. New Age spirituality uses both openness to diversity and certainty about spiritual truths.
Haynes (1998) argues that Islamic fundamentalism is driven by local issues not globalisation e.g. The Taliban’s purpose was for improving services (when the Taliban first started).
Key word:
What does monotheism mean?
The belief in the existence of only one God.
Monotheism and fundamentalism:
How does monotheism link to fundamentalists? (use sociologist)
Bruce (2008) - argues that fundamentalism is common in monotheistic religions because they have a single sacred text with one “right” interpretation, while polytheistic religions allow for more varied beliefs.
Monotheism and fundamentalism:
What is fundamentalism like in Western countries (use sociologist).
Bruce says in the West, fundamentalism, like the NCR in America, reacts to changes like family diversity and sexual freedom, aiming to influence laws. (INTERNAL FACTOR)
Monotheism and fundamentalism:
What is fundamentalism like in third world countries? (use sociologist)
Bruce argues that in poorer countries, fundamentalism reacts to modernisation - resisting the push to privatise religion, like in the Islamic Revolution in Iran. (EXTERNAL)
Key word:
What does secular fundamentalism mean?
A strict belief that promotes secular values, often with intolerance towards religion.
e.g. The hijab ban in France (2010) - ban full-face veils in public.
Key word:
What is the clash of civilisations mean?
Global conflicts, like the 9/11 attacks, are a result of religious differences, e.g. between the West and Islam.
The ‘clash of civilisations’:
How does ‘clash of civilisations fundamentalism link? (use sociologist)
Huntington argues that globalisation has made religion a source of identity - leads to conflict as The West try to asset reassert Christian identity in fear of people being radicalised by Islam.
Criticisms of the ‘clash of civilisations’.
What are the criticisms of the ‘clash of civilisations’ (use sociologist)
Jackson (2006) views this as as orientalism, which stereotypes Muslims, as inferior and justifies Western exploitation.
Armstrong (2001; 2015) argues that hostility towards the West is due to their foreign policy which is harsh and marginalises these communities.
Key word:
What is cultural defence?
When a group protects its way of life and values against outside influences.
Cultural defence:
How did Poland use its cultural defence?
From 1945 to 1989, Poland was under communist rule by the Soviet Union.
The Catholic Church served as a point for opposition to the Soviet Union and the Polish communist party which lead to the fall of communism.
Cultural defence:
How did Iran use its cultural defence? (use sociologist)
Due to the Shah pushing modernisation from the West, Islam became a form of resistance, culminating in the 1979 revolution that created the Islamic Republic.
Haynes argues that unlike in some other Middle Eastern countries, the Iranian revolution was led by religious leaders, not by elites supporting Western powers.
Key word:
What does globalisation mean?
When the world becomes more connected, and things like ideas, products, and people move easily between countries.
Key word:
What does ultra nationalism mean?
An extreme belief in the superiority of one’s nation, often leading to exclusion of others and a desire for dominance.
Key word:
What does nationalism mean?
The belief that a group of people who share a common culture, language, or history should have their own nation or be loyal to their nation.
Religion and development:
How does the link between God and globalisation apply in India? (use sociologist)
Nanda (2008) looks at how Hinduism helps support the rise of Hindu nationalism and the growing wealth of India’s middle class, which has come with the country’s economic growth and global influence.
Religion and development:
How does Hinduism and consumerism link? (use sociologist)
In India, the growing urban M/C despite being wealthy and educated remains highly religious (which usually those who are wealthy are less religious due to existential security theory). Poor - religious as they don’t have much.
Nanda suggests this is because they seek to balance traditional Hindu values with their new material success, using modern Hinduism and spiritual leaders to reconcile consumerism with spirituality.
Religion and development:
How has Hindu ultra-nationalism developed? (use sociologist)
Nanda (2003) argues that Hinduism is being used to promote a nationalist view of India, where Hindu values are seen as key to the country’s success.
This has led to a closer connection between Hinduism and Indian identity, but also created tensions with non-Hindu minorities (as Hindu’s see themselves as superior to others)
Hindu beliefs are increasingly influencing public life e.g. astrology being taught in universities and government projects based on ancient Hindu practices.
Religion and development:
How has capitalism developed in East Asia? (use sociologist)
Redding (1990) argues that Confucian values e.g. hard work and self-discipline have lead to the success of Chinese economy, similar to the Protestant ethic’s influence on capitalism in Europe.
Religion and development:
How has Pentecostalism lead to the rise in capitalism in Latin America? (use sociologist)
Berger (2003) compares Pentecostalism in Latin America to the Protestant ethic, arguing it promotes capitalism by encouraging hard work, discipline and self-denial.
This has helped create a growing middle class in regions like southern Brazil and Chile.
However, Berger also notes that economic development requires both religious values and natural resources.
Religion and development:
How has Pentecostalism not lead o the rise in capitalism in Latin America? (use sociologist)
Berger argues that religious values alone can’t drive economic growth; natural resources are also needed.
While Pentecostalism has grown in northern Brazil, the lack of resources has slowed development, whereas the resource-rich south is growing faster.
Religion and development:
How has Christianity spread globally? (use sociologist)
Lehmann (2002) - Christianity has spread globally in two phases.
First Phase: It was imposed during colonization, replacing local religions.
Second Phase: Christianity, particularly Pentecostalism, gained popularity from the grassroots level by adapting to local cultures and appealing to the poor through the media.
Religion and development:
How has Pentecostalism been able to spread locally and globally? (use sociologist)
Lehmann (2002) - Pentecostalism’s success comes from blending with local cultures, incorporating beliefs like spirit possession while maintaining Christian teachings.
It appeals to the poor in developing countries and spreads widely through global media.
