globalisation & religion

Globalisation: the interconnectedness of the world

Fundamentalism

Definition: a return to the literal interpretation of religious texts & traditions, often rejecting modernity, pluralism, secular values

Key features:

  • Authoritative sacred text - every word in sacred texts are true, inerrant, & not open to questioning

  • Us v Them mentality - Davie - seek to establish islands of certainty against what they see as cultural & social chaos

  • Aggressive reaction - aim to draw attention to the threat of their beliefs through shock, intimidation, or causing harm

  • Use of modern tech - oppose modern culture because it is corrupted by secularism & liberalism, but they use modern tech like the media to achieve their aims

  • Patriarchy - Hawley - favour a world that has control over women’s sexuality, reproductive powers, and social & economic roles

E.g. Westboro baptist church - politically conservative, fundamentalist movement that strongly opposes the liberalising of America

They take the Bible literally, being strongly against abortion, divorce, contraception, and homosexuality

Theories

  • Davie & Giddens

Fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation & the uncertainty it brings, people feel threatened by it & turn to the certainty of religion, they feel the need to defend themselves against it

Threats:

~ rapid social change - traditional norms are being challenged

~ Growth of science - religious explanations lose authority

~ Exposure to different lifestyles, beliefs, & values can feel destabilising

~ Loss of tradition & increased choice - religion no longer provides clear guidance for life

New age movements cause an increase in fundamentalism because:

  1. Obligation is replaced by choice (Davie) - individuals no longer feel a duty to follow religious teachings

  2. Religion has become a marketplace - traditional churches must compete with spiritual alternatives

Since traditional religions have lost influence & members they are on the defence - claim NAM’s are dangerous or meaningless, distracting people from the truth

  • Criticism

Beckford

Ignore the positive impacts globalisation has had on religion e.g. giving people choice

  • Davie

Argues that secular ideologies can become fundamentalist

  1. France - extreme secularism - religious expression is restricted & not tolerated

2014 - banned Muslim women from wearing a burkini on beaches

  1. Just stop oil - extreme environmentalism - believe climate action is the only moral choice, justify extreme actions, don’t tolerate other arguments

  • Bruce

Cultural defence - religion is used to unite a community in defence of its culture, language, or identity under threat of pressure from external global threat - religion is a symbol for the groups collective identity

E.g. Poland & the Soviet Union

During 1945-1990 Poland was under communist rule & the Catholic Church was suppressed, Poles saw the church as a symbol of their national identity. The church provided a place for people to meet & rally against communism.

The church also lent active support to the trade union & workers movement of the 1980’s & helped to bring about the fall of communism

  • Nanda

~ Weber argues that religion helped create the right mindset for capitalism to grow in the west & that religion would become less important as societies modernised.

~ In India however, Hinduism remained central in their lives as the country became wealthier & more connected to the global economy - religion adapted to capitalism rather than being faded out

Political parties & the media promote the idea that India’s global strength comes from its Hindu culture which ties religion to national pride

E.g. business professionals & students would visit temples before job interviews or exams & make offerings for good fortune

Consequence - excludes or marginalises religious minorities which creates division