Religion in Modern Politics

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology from the lecture on Religion in Modern Politics.

Modernity

A cultural construction used to justify colonial projects, characterized by technical efficiency, education, literacy, secularism, and capitalist economies.

Modernization

The process through which a society becomes more modern.

Religion

A system of beliefs and practices based on belief in, or acknowledgment of, some superhuman power or powers.

Religiosity

The intensity of religious belief or practice, often measured through self-identification and attendance.

Secularism

A movement towards the separation of religion and government, ensuring public institutions make decisions free from religious influence.

Religious states

States that institute religious laws and courts as the basis of their legal systems, like Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Secular states

States with secular legal systems that do not establish an official religion, such as the United States and France.

Antireligious states

States that show official hostility toward religion, generally by establishing atheism, like China and North Korea.

Secularization theory

The theory that as societies become more modern, the need for and power of religion begins to decline.

Secularization indicators

Measures such as belief in God, religious services attendance, and the importance of religion in people's lives.

Changing practice

The notion that there is a change in how religious beliefs are practiced rather than a general decline in religion.

Hostility to religious institutions

A stance taken by some countries that exhibits official disdain or negative treatment toward religious entities.

Religious texts and national laws

The debate on how much influence specific religious texts should have on the laws of a country.

Belief in God

The percentage of individuals who affirm belief in a deity, as measured in various regions over time.

Religious nationalism

The tendency to prioritize a specific religion within a nation's legal framework, often at odds with secular principles.

Social mobility

The ability of individuals to move within or between social strata in society, often related to modernity.

Public religion

The public expression and involvement of religion in societal and political contexts.

Religious identification

The label or category that individuals claim or are assigned in relation to their religious beliefs.

Cohort differences in religiosity

Variances in religious beliefs and practices among different generations, especially in the context of historical events like the Cold War.