Globalization of Religion PDF

LESSON 7 THE GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION Lesson Objectives: a. Characterize the relationship between religion and globalization. b. Assess the effects of globalization on religious practices and beliefs. c. Analyze the relationship between religion and global co...

LESSON 7 THE GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION Lesson Objectives: a. Characterize the relationship between religion and globalization. b. Assess the effects of globalization on religious practices and beliefs. c. Analyze the relationship between religion and global conflict, and global peace. ACTIVATE Access this link before the beginning of this lesson: “The Rise of ISIS” (http://www.pbs.org/ wgbh/frontline/film/riseof-isis/). Then, think of words that you can associate with the world religion. RELIGION EMPOWER How did you feel about giving a definition of religion on your own? Was it easy to think of words that you can associate with religion? Indeed, religion is difficult to describe and realize, because human belief structures are varied and complex. But one thing is for sure, religion is strongly connected to culture. Ole Preben Riis in "Methodology in the Sociology of Religion" (2011) defines religion as "a world view, an ideology, an organization, an attitude, a set of values, as moods and motivations, or as an ethical disposition.“ The The Penguin Dictionary of Religions says religion is "a general term used in most modern European languages to designate all concepts concerning belief in God(s) and Goddess(es) as well as other spiritual beings or transcendental ultimate concerns.“ Some Christians declare that Christianity as "not a religion, but a relationship with Jesus.“ Some Muslims say "Islam is not a religion - it is a way of life.“ It used to be the case that "most Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas Hindus do not realize they 'belong' to that religion, for it is a name given by outsiders. Thankfully, most adherents understand the utility of words well enough to accept that they belong to specific religions, and nowadays there is a strong Hindu-awareness movement that heralds a new generation of Hindus. Many definitions of religion have been attempted but many fall foul of being too narrow, or too wide. Aside from the definitions given earlier, religion is also explained as “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.“ It is “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.“ Religion, then, “consists of beliefs, actions, and institutions which assume the existence of supernatural entities with powers of action, or impersonal powers or processes possessed of moral purpose.” Religions are shared collections of transcendental beliefs that have been passed on from believers to converts, that are held by adherents to be actively meaningful and serious and either based on (1) formally documented doctrine (organized religion) or (2) established cultural practices (folk religion). Actors of religion are among the oldest of transnationals, carrying words and praxis across vast spaces, which include individuals or groups, who act on consistent messages regarding the relationship between religion, politics and society. How did religions crossed the local barriers? Well, globalization began 3000 years ago as the Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange (i.e. textiles, spices and even religions were all exchanged along the Silk Road). The Silk Road presented religious communities with the most efficient way to spread their beliefs where Missionaries often joined caravans and traders. Buddhism was the first great missionary faith spreading from Northern India to Afghanistan and Bengal and finally to China, Korea, and Japan, and back to Tibet. Note that silk was extensively used in Buddhist ceremonies stimulating the demand and facilitating trade along the Silk Road enhancing globalization but Islam was the dominant religion among Silk Road traders for most of the time. Islamic scientific and medical advancements also had significant impact on Silk Road travelers. In fact, Chinese Buddhist traders adopted Islamic medical knowledge in wound healing and urine analysis. Thus, interconnectivity of trade, culture and religion enhanced globalization. The irony is that, religious actors have been agents of globalization for centuries (individualists) and yet globalization is often associated with spreading same ideas and views (universalists). Samuel Huntington (1992) sees a clash of civilizations between the universalists and individualists, between the West and Rest because globalization does not lead to identical responses from all religious actors (although globalization is sometimes actively pursued by religous actors). A perfect example of this paradox is the Al Qaeda which opposes Westernization, but at the same time, utilizes the tools and techniques of this phenomenon to achieve their own globalizing aim. Huntington offers six explanations for why civilizations will clash: 1. Differences among civilizations are too basic in that civilizations are differentiated from each other by history, language, culture, tradition, and, most importantly, religion. These fundamental Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas differences are the product of centuries and the foundations of different civilizations, meaning they will not be gone soon. 2. The world is becoming a smaller place. As a result, interactions across the world are increasing, which intensify "civilization consciousness" and the awareness of differences between civilizations and commonalities within civilizations. 3. Due to economic modernization and social change, people are separated from longstanding local identities. Instead, religion has replaced this gap, which provides a basis for identity and commitment that transcends national boundaries and unites civilizations. 4. The growth of civilization-consciousness is enhanced by the dual role of the West. On the one hand, the West is at a peak of power. At the same time, a return-to-the-roots phenomenon is occurring among non-Western civilizations. A West at the peak of its power confronts non-Western countries that increasingly have the desire, the will and the resources to shape the world in non-Western ways. 5. Cultural characteristics and differences are less mutable and hence less easily compromised and resolved than political and economic ones. 6. Economic regionalism is increasing. Successful economic regionalism will reinforce civilization-consciousness. Economic regionalism may succeed only when it is rooted in a common civilization. IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGION: Religion and globalization have always shared a relation of struggle and conflict. While globalization has generally been linked with economic and political interdependence, which ultimately brought people closer, it also has shifted the cultural build-up of the world that led to the formation of a global culture. As mentioned earlier, globalization has diverse, even paradoxical implications for religion. By diminishing the barriers between different cultures, globalization lands religion in a dilemma of conflicts. The distinct norms, different cultures and different worshipping ways and practices will be wiped out by globalization, which promotes homogeneity (referred to as worldwide cultures becoming similar). Threat to traditions of religions, disintegrate traditional social norms and values by the invasion of consumerism, cyber culture, and etc. Moreover, human rights are becoming the main issue in the global world concerning the status of women and ritual killings and human sacrifice. Globalization may have also implied on faith in the following three possible impacts: 1) Religion is being eroded; 2) Religion is being strengthened; and 3) Religion is declining but it has developed new identities of hybridity. CONFLICTS vs. COOPERATION Many internal and external conflicts exist in this multipolar world. There is evidence of resurgence of conservative-traditionalist religious movements that have often been labelled as religious fundamentalism. Religious fundamentalism is best explained as: 1) a religious phenomenon; religious is very essential as ideology, ethos, goals, leadership of fundamentalism are founded and Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas built on religious beliefs and practices; 2) a reaction to and cultural changes which are experienced as a dramatic crisis so that it differs from traditionalism; and 3) a defensive reaction which attempts to preserve or restore an idealized or imagined former social order which is characterized by a strict patriarchal order and moralism. People cannot bear these uncertainties - any movements, like religious fundamentalism, that are regarded to bring certainties back will gain its market and acceptance (i.e. the creation of extremists and terrorists). Essentially, all religions teach these shared principles of love, patience, peace, justice and equality.. The phenomenon of globalization of religion has made it easier to transfer the all- embracing message of any religion all over the world. As a result, societies are becoming less exclusive and more multi-religious. Social reality forces world religious communities to get rid of their exclusive attitudes and to develop some universal orientations, which should be more accommodating to the other. Inter- religious dialogue, therefore, can be a discourse between two or more religious organizations for better understanding of the tenets of each religion in order to promote peaceful coexistence among the practitioners of such religions. Thus, interreligious dialogue will be fruitful as people of different religions and faith encounter each other in an atmosphere of freedom and openness for each partner to listen and understand each other. THE SPREAD OF RELIGION VS. SECULARIZATION The inner nature of religions and the purpose to be embraced and practiced by people all over the world prompts it to spread throughout all the world’s geographical spaces. In order to emerge and spread, therefore, religions make good use of the technologies of globalization. Having geographical boundaries and frontiers blurred and dissolved, religions find it easy to spread and reach every part of the world. For instance, countless websites providing information about religions have been created. This makes pieces of information and explanations about different religions readily at the disposal of any person regardless of his or her geographical location. In addition, the internet allows people to contact each other worldwide and therefore hold forums and debates that allow religious ideas to spread. Furthermore, the media plays the same important role in the dissemination of religious ideas. In this respect, a lot of TV channels, radio stations and print media are founded solely for advocating rel i g i on s. T a k i n g I s l a m a s a n ex a m pl e, w e fi n d s uc h T. V c h a n n el s as Iqrae, Ennass, Majd, El Houda, Erahma, etc. as purely religious channels created for the strengthening and the fortification of Islam. Transportation means– as a technology of globalisation as well–have contributed considerably to the emergence, revivalism and fortification of religion. In this respect, Turner (2003) states that the “Islamic revivalism in Asia is related to the improvement Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas in transportation has allowed many Muslims to travel to Mecca, and return with reformist ideas. Globalization technologies, therefore, have helped religions of different forms i.e., fundamentalist, moderate, etc. to cross geographical boundaries and be present everywhere. Consequently, the increase of industrialization, urbanization and rationalization would bring about the decrease of religious faith. Religion would become less important factor in human life of modern society and a modern secular system would be a dominant force as theological system was falling down. Religion would eventually vanish from the lives of modern secular society. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBALIZATION AND RELIGION Religion has always sought to spread its message beyond frontiers. While globalization with its homogenization can disturb cultures so that some religions oppose it, some people might seek protection from globalization impacts and foster opposition. It is important to note that globalization does not lead necessarily to a homogenization of groups and the rise of a universal community, because there is the desire for esteem within a culture. SECULARIZATION Each religion has secularized in its own distinctive way, which has resulted in its own distinctive secular outcome. Even if globalization increases secularization, it does not bring one common worldview. As counter-movement to US-globalization, Islam revivalists and developing neo- Confucianism promote Asian values. Great religions see the globalization led by the US closely connected to secularization and therefore as threat to themselves. Special in the world view is Protestantism as it rejects hierarchy and community and any intermediaries between the individual and God in contrast to most other religions. Is secularization a consequence of globalization? Let us analyze in the following table. Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas RELIGION IN GLOBALIZATION: ONGOING CONFLICT OR COEXISTENCE? Mark Juergensmeyer (1995) explains why global religious resurgence is possible. Nation-state provided a secure sense of identity, accountability, and security for a stable society. However, nation -states have lost its role. ① Transnational economic systems undercut national structuresof authority and control. ② New communication networks made instant contact possible across the world. ③ Massive demographic shift everywhere. As a result, the idea of a homogenous national cultural identity became a relic of the past. People started to regard that religious community can provide identity, accountability and security. Harald Müller (2010) explains the coexistence of civilization in terms the relationship between globalization and religion. The impact of globalization, is without a doubt, a huge change in every aspect of life. The impact to one‘s identity, however, poses diverse responses due to unfamiliarity such that ① Aggressive responses include religious fundamentalism and xenophobia and ② Receptive responses include attention and adaptation, coexistence. In other words, communication and cooperation are the keys to coexistence. But how, you may ask? People must have common perceptions in terms of ① Respect for human right and dignity and ② Improvement based on peace. In the process of cultural exchange around the globe, a peaceful relationship involves methods for mutual trust, namely: ① Government : Summit meeting, IGOs (more communications) ② Economy : Trade relation (interests by cooperation) ③ Society : The role of NGO ( Mediator between civilizations) In summary, Müller’s view on religion and globalization include: 1) Different religion is one of important elements making different culture; 2) Ignorance and repulsion on different culture make conflicts; and 3) Communication and understanding other culture is important for peace. We have learned that globalization 1) provides more chances of communication, given the evolution of communication, transportation, and migration; 2) also intensifies the economic interdependence among actors, where people perceive the economic benefit from cooperation; and 3) Globalized NGO can hold “merciless global capital (Neo-liberalism)” in check. As a result, these networks will help to make common values in the globe: Humanity, Mutual Respect, and Peace, Contemporary World Unit 3: A World of Ideas