(Tomalin 2013) Religions and Development

Substantive

• What religion is

• Organized system of beliefs about God or supernatural entities, taught & shared by a community thru rules & rituals

• Beliefs in beings that transcend knowledge

• Beliefs as the unseen

• Values / Theology-based approaches

Limit of substantive definition

Too rigid & excluding of other belief traditions that do not believe in Gods or supernatural beliefs

Functionalist

• What religion does

• Social & psychological functions that religion serves

  • Religion responds to the basic human need to make life seem rational & good

  • Durkheim: “Religion is a unified system of belifs & practices set apart & forbidden which unite into a single moral community called the Church

  • Utilitarian; to do Good

Limit of functionalist definition

Too broad; what abt other meaning-making or community-forming activites

Practical

• Working definition

• Complex set of shared practices, premised on beliefs about superhuman entities & with the goal of security, blessings or avoiding misfortune

Historically, development viewed religion as

outdated aspects of life that would vanish with modernization

Religion

Organized, communal, ritualistic

Institutionalized and focused on doctrine

Spirituality

Individualized, deep, personal

Relationships between the individual and the sacred or divince

Not Institutionalized and focused on doctrine

Faith

• Often used as a substitute for “religion” (e.g “faith-based organizations (FBOs) involved in various forms of charitable work)

• Extends beyond codification of values, rules and social practices within particular traditions

• "Faith" is Christian-centric and may not be as meaningful in traditions like Islam or Hinduism

Why consider religion in dev

• Range of factors blocking/ facilitating ‘development’ may not be taken into consideration.

• increased perception of ‘development’ as a western, colonialist imposition.

• Actors & agencies could fail considerations of development, contextually

• Missed opportunities to work with FBOs

Secularization Theory

• Assumed that societies would become less religious as they modernized or gained more economic growth

  • (Instead, religion has persisted and even intensified)

1900s global resurgence of Religion

1980s - Fueled by events like the 1979 Iranian Revolution

Rise of the religious right in US politics and growth of political Islam

Turn to religion in the Global North

• Increased Funding for FBOs: US significantly increased funding for faith-based groups under George W. Bush, following the UK’s DFID

• Institutional Engagement: Orgs like USAID & the World Bank have established dialogues and centers to engage religious actors

• Academic Shift: Growing recognition how religious identity and cultural are integral to successful development

Events that testify the resurgence of religion in social affairs

1. US Support mujahideen to fight against the soviets in Afghanistan

2. Catholic Church influence on reproductive policies (pro life vs. pro choice)

3. Rise of Hindu nationalist politics in India

4. Right of the “religious right” as a political block

5. 9/11 attacks

6. Collapse of communism after cold war, rise of freedom in religion

Multivocal nature of religion

• Religious precepts & rules are interpreted & reinterpreted by its leaders, followers, members

• Not homogenous and can be negotiated

  • Not all Christians are pro-life

• No rel. group are foreclosed to change

Why religion in development

• Religious views can be powerful social, political, ideological tools

• Progressive or regressive social change is always accompanied by religious elements

• Religion = used in producing & maintaining social diff. in various contexts