Beliefs in Society 5

World religion (fundamentalism, Neo-Hinduism)

What is fundamentalism?

Having a strict, literal interpretation of scripture

What are characteristics of fundamentalists?

• Authoritative sacred text

• Rejection of religious pluralism

• Aggressive reaction

• Use of modern technology

• Patriarchy

• Rely upon guardians of tradition

• Rejection of modernity

What is Boko Haram?

Western education is forbidden

Where is Boko Haram active?

Nigeria and Chad

What is Islamic State (ISIS)?

Mass killings, abductions, beheadings, seized territory

Where did ISIS originate?

Syria

What is Boko Haram famous for?

Schoolgirls kidnapping

What is Westboro Baptist Church?

Rejection of liberal thinking

Where is Westboro active?

US

What religion is Boko Haram?

Muslim

What religion is ISIS?

Muslim

What religion is Westboro Baptist Church?

Christian

What does Giddens say about fundamentalism?

Came with globalisation - detest modernity but use technology

What is Giddens’ term for a liberal way of thinking?

Cosmopolitanism

What does Bauman argue?

Fundamentalism is a result of living in postmodernity (moral relativism)

What are the 2 responses to postmodernity according to Castells?

Resist and project identity

What is resist identity?

Defensive retreat into fundamentalist communities

What is project identity?

Forward looking people who engage in feminism and environmentalism

What is a criticisms of Giddens (and co) and who argued it?

Haynes - focus on only one cause of fundamentalism

What does Bruce argue?

Fundamentalism is limited to monotheistic religions

Why is fundamentalism restricted to only monotheistic religions?

Based more on God’s will and have an authoritative sacred text

What types of fundamentalist causes are there according to Bruce?

• Western - reaction to social change

• Non-Western - reaction to Western change being thrust upon them

What does Almond argue are causes on fundamentalism other than globalisation?

• High migration

• Economic problems

• Western imperialism

• Effective leadership

What does Huntington argue?

Clash of civilisations

What is the clash of civilisations?

Us and them relations as religions fight for economic and military power

What does Huntington argue about Islam?

• It is a threat to the West which must reassert itself as Christian

• Problem is Islam itself

What is a criticism of Huntington and who argued it?

Horrie and Chippindale - misleading as he portrays the whole of Islam as the enemy when it is only a minority

What does Huntington are the reasons for religious differences becoming a source of identity?

• Fall of communism

• Nation state less significant

• Contact between civilisations

What is Held’s definition of globalisation?

The widening, deepening, speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the spiritual

What does Nanda argue?

Hinduism has become dominated by the middle class who use it to justify Indians’ newfound wealth

Why are the middle class more attracted to low-status village gods according to Nanda?

They are more responsive

How does Nanda argue the tension between traditional Hindu beliefs and the new prosperity relieved?

Modern Hinduism states that materialism motivates people rather than it being greedy

What does Berger argue?

Pentecostalism in Latin America is the functional equivalent to the Protestant work ethic

What else produces economic development according to Berger?

Natural resources

What does Compte argue?

Society has progressed through periods to get to a stage of scientific knowledge

What is the theological stage?

Religion and superstition is dominant

What is the metaphysical stage?

Philosophical beliefs are dominant

What is the positive stage?

Science is dominant

What does Popper argue?

Science is an open belief system which aims to falsify

What does Merton argue?

CUDOs principle - science norms (ethical system)

What does CUDOs stand for?

• Communism

• Universalism

• Disinterestedness

• Organised skepticism

What does Horton argue?

Religion is a closed belief system as it is self-sustaining

Why is the Azande tribe a self-sustaining belief system?

Tests for witchcraft are probability based

How do self-sustaining belief systems work according to Polyani?

• Denial of other beliefs

• Mystical notion is explained by another mystical notion

• Explanations given if things are disproven

Does Polyani think science is an open or closed belief system?

Closed

What does Kuhn argue?

Science is a closed belief system as those who go against the paradigm are ridiculed

What does Gramsci argue?

Control of middle class is never complete as the working class can base their ideas off experience

What does Gramsci argue the working class have?

Dual consciousness - ideology and experience

What does Marks argue?

Religious beliefs prevent the education of women (unclean)

What does Miller argue?

Postmodernism supports capitalism

How does postmodernism support capitalism?

Argues that people can pick and mix identities when some people’s are fixed