YR2 BELIEFS: religion in a global context Flashcards
what is globalisation?
the process of the world becoming increasingly interconnected.
what 4 areas of society does globalisation hugely impact?
-political
-economic
-cultural
-technological
What are the 5 main sections / theories we look at for religion in a global context?
- religion and economic development
- religious fundamentalism
- secular fundamentalism
- the clash of civilisations
- cultural defence
Describe India’s middle class economic situation currently
-one of the fastest growing middle class populations in the world
- 1996 middle class : 25 million
Today middle class : 276 million
- a huge, prosperous, educated urban middle class. Largely working in IT, pharmaceuticals + biotechnology
What sociologist studies India’s economic growth in relation to religion and globalisation? What does she argue?
NANDA (2008)
its the Indians Hindu beliefs which have aided this economic growth. The new Indian Middle Class are continuing to be highly religious
A survey showed that over the last 5 years ____% Indian middle class had become more religious
30%
Why is Hinduism (India) now different to when Weber originally studied it?
-renunciation of materialism vs new prosperity of the middle class
-modern holy men preach the message that desire is not bad
-BUSINESS - FRIENDLY VERSION of Hinduism
-can be ‘spiritually balanced’ by spending some wealth on religious rituals
What is meant by the term Hindu-ultra nationalism?
-belief that Indian culture + Hindu values = superior
-being a good Indian citizen = being a good Hindu
- Non - Hindu Indians are looked down on
define religious fundamentalism
- the adherence to a religion’s most traditional values + beliefs and a return to the basics of the faith
what is religious fundamentalism often characterised by?
a degree of militancy, as well as literal interpretations + strict reliance on a sacred text
list as many recent examples of religious fundamentalism in the news as you can think of
- the New Christian Right
- Gaza conflict
- Taliban , ISIS
- LRA
- IRA
- Manchester Arena attack 2017
- 9/11, 7/7 London Bombings
when does religious fundamentalism arise?
when traditional beliefs and values are being threatened or challenged by modern society by the impact of a increasingly globalised world
name at least 4 key features of fundamentalist groups
- an authoritative sacred text
- an ‘us and them’ mentality
- aggressive reactions
- use of modern technology
- patriarchy
- conspiracy theories
- prophecy
how does Giddens link fundamentalism to globalisation?
fundamentalism is a product of and reaction to globalisation, which undermines traditional social norms concerning the nuclear family, gender and sexuality. modern society is full of uncertainty + choice
what is cosmopolitanism
a way of thinking that embraces modernity. its tolerant of the views of others + open to new ideas. ones lifestyle is seen as a personal choice rather than something prescribed by an external authority. (opposite to fundamentalism)
how does BAUMAN link fundamentalism to postmodernity?
fund = a response to living in postmodernity. it brings about freedom of choice, uncertainty + a heightened awareness of risk which undermines old certainties about how to live traditionally. some embrace the new freedom, others are attracted to fundamentalism by its claims of absolute truths and certainty
what are the 2 responses to postmodernity that CASTELLS identifies?
Resistance identity: a defensive reaction of those who feel threatened + retreat into fundamentalist communities.
Project identity: the response of those who are forward-looking + engage with social movements such as feminism (cosmopolitanism)
Bruce (2008) suggests that fundamentalism is confined to what type of religions and why?
monotheistic - based on idea of God’s will, revealed through one single sacred text that contains the actual word of God, laying down specific rules for followers.
what type of religions tend not to attract fundamentalism? why?
Polytheistic religions - lack a single omnipotent God and a single text meaning there’s more scope for different interpretations + no overriding claim of the absolute truth
what does Bruce suggest the West’s fundamentalism is coming from? can you give an example? (USA)
change taking place within society, especially diversity + choice. eg: New Christian Right USA oppose family diversity, gender equality + abortion rights
what does Bruce suggest fundamentalism in the Third World is coming from?
a reaction to changes being thrust upon society from the outside, like modernisation / globalisation.
can you give an example of fundamentalism in the Third World (Bruce) ?
the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran was triggered by Western values being imposed by local elites who were supported by the west. Iran aimed to resist the state’s attempt to push religion to the private sphere
which sociologist discusses the Clash of Civilisations? religion in a global context
HUNTINGTON 1993
What does Huntington claim is at the forefront of a clash of civilisations in a newly globalised world?
RELIGION.
name at least 3 civilisations that Huntington identifies
- Western
- Latin American
- Islamic
- Hindu
- Japanese
- Chinese (Confucian)
- Russian / Eastern Europe
Huntington: each civilisation has a common cultural background + historical background that is associated with ______________
ONE RELIGION.
Huntington argues that shared religion may do what to civilisations?
may unite them , or cause conflict
why has globalisation reinforced clash and conflict between civilisations>
because contact between civilisations is now much easier. due to advanced Transport and technology. easy travelling , easy communication + news access
what example of ‘us and them’ attitudes between civilisations does Huntington use?
the ‘West and the rest’ conflict between Western and Islamic / Chinese civilisations. suggests that the West is now under threat from the whole of Islam
give 2 criticisms of Huntington’s Clash of Civilisations argument
1) ignores religious divisions within civilisations such as Islam/ Christianity
2) portrays the whole of Islam as the enemy
3) clashes are not anti west but anti western policy
4) its an example of Orientalism
what is orientalism?
western ideology that stereotypes Eastern nations / people as inferior, fanatical or untrustworthy
what does Norris (2011) claim is the real clash of civilisations?
GENDER + SEXUALITY. western attitudes have become more liberal whilst the Muslim world remains more traditional. there’s no global agreement about diversity, gender equality etc
what is secular fundamentalism ?
where fundamentalism becomes a non-religious response to modernity + globalisation.
describe the ‘first phase’ of modernity according to Davie (2013)
from Enlightenment project late 1700s - 1960s. people held the belief that the power of science would improve the world - this undermined religious belief. led to a rise of religious fundamentalism as a response to this growing secular movement.
describe the ‘second phase’ of modernity according to Davie (2013)
1970s onwards. Enlightenment project came under attack. created growing pessimism around science, + uncertainty caused by globalisation, concerns for environment + the collapse of communism. As a result, secular ideologies began to struggle for survival like religion once did. led to a rise of secular-fundamentalism as a response to the new threat secularism was facing
which country is extremely secular fundamentalist ?
FRANCE
give a brief example of secular fundamentalism in atheist groups in France
1) atheist group filed a lawsuit against Indiana Town to have a 50 year old nativity scene removed from outside a courthouse
2) atheist group sues to remove a Christian cross at as US military base that had been erected to honour 5 fallen Christian comrades
give 2 examples of France being a secular fundamentalist state
-law protects individuals’ freedom to not have to see others express their religion
-2010 bill banned the covering of the face
-poll - 84% of French citizens oppose the wearing of the Islamic veil.
-French Muslims face poverty and alienation.
-nearly half of all militants who have travelled from Europe to join ISIS in Iraq / Syria are from France
what 2 examples of areas where religion has been used as a cultural defence mechanism does Bruce use?
1) Poland
2) Iran
what external threat was Poland defending against?
communism from the Soviet union
what does Bruce argue about religion as a defence mechanism (religion in a global context)
religion has a special significance for its followers, as it symbolises the group’s collective identity and reinforces the power of the group
what religious beliefs were significant in Poland that helped them fight back against communism?
Catholic Christian, despite the communist regime suppressing the Church.
how did the Catholic beliefs help Poland fight against the threat of communism?
- the Church served as a popular rallying point for opposition to the communist party
- Church lent its active support to the Solidarity Free Trade Union movement that helped to bring about the fall of communism
what external threat was Iran defending against?
Western Capitalist powers
what religious beliefs were significant in Iran that helped them fight back against communism?
Islam
how did the Muslim beliefs help Iran fight against the threat of Western capitalist powers?
the revolution of 1979 brought the creation of the Islamic Republic, in which clerics held state power + were able to impose Islamic Sharia Law
