1. Religion in a global context
Arshad Habib

2. Learning objectives What is the role of religion at a global level?
Three key approaches
The ability of religion to resolve tension with modernity: Three case studies
The ability of religion to construct a reaction against modernity
Religion and its cultural role
Sketch
Also what definition of religion is being used?

3. A quick quiz What does 'Vicarious Religion' mean?
Where a small number of professional clergy practise religion on behalf of a small number of people
Existential Security Threat says that (____) countries are more religious
Poorer
Whose theory was 'existential security threat'?
Norris and Inglehart
Also what definition of religion is being used?

4. A quick quiz
In a Canadian survey 80% people said they had religious beliefs. It means % people had no beliefs.
20%
Who cited 'Jesus in Disneyland' as an example of the changing form of religion? Explain what does it mean?
Lyon
What's a criticism of 'Believing without Belonging'?
Attendance AND belief are both declining
Whose theory was 'Spiritual Shopping'?
Danielle Hervieu-Leger
Also what definition of religion is being used?

5. A quick quiz
Who believed that the secularisation theory is Eurocentric?
Vasquez
What are the two new types of religious movements, according to Hervieu- Leger? Describe each one of them.
Pilgrims & Converts
What's a criticism of Religious Market Theory?
It assumes that people are ‘naturally’ inclined to religion.
Also what definition of religion is being used?

6. A quick quiz
Stark and Bainbridge do not agree with secularisation theory. What are the two assumptions that they base their theory on?
Who argued against secularisation because of 'believing without belonging'?
Davie
Also what definition of religion is being used?

7. The changing role of religion in a global context
Main points of secularisation theory
Modernisation such as:
advancement of science and technology
increased economic activities
Rationalisation of human life i.e.
Use of human reason rather than religious imagery
What is the evidence at a global level?
Also what definition of religion is being used?

8. The changing role of religion in a global context
1. The ability of religion to resolve tension with modernity: Three case studies
The case of India: Accepting and celebrating economic/commercial activities and science and technology
Also what definition of religion is being used?

9. The changing role of religion in a global context
1. The ability of religion to resolve tension with modernity: Three case studies
Has it undermined Hinduism?
Also what definition of religion is being used?

10. The changing role of religion in a global context
1. The ability of religion to resolve tension with modernity
The rapidly emerging economic class is oriented towards religion
The case of India is an evidence against existential security theory
Also what definition of religion is being used?

11. The changing role of religion in a global context
The case of India echoes Weberian strand: the attainment of material (wealth) is legitimised and justified as a sign of divine’s favour by the rising middle class that help them to adjust to globalised consumer capitalism
Also what definition of religion is being used?

12. The changing role of religion in a global context
In India religion is playing far more greater role today that defies secularisation thesis e.g. Hinduism is contributing to Indian nationalism
‘Our people are not perfect, but our culture is superior to others’ (93% Indians’ response in Pew Global Attitude Survey)
Hindu values coalesce with secular values (Nanda, 2008)
You know India’s population?
Can you calculate?
Also what definition of religion is being used?

13. The changing role of religion in a global context
The case of East Asia also echoes Weberian strand: Confucian values contributed to the rise of capitalism in ‘East Asian tiger economies’
Confucian values of hard-work, self disciple, frugality and a commitment to education and self-improvement encouraged people to accumulate wealth
Also what definition of religion is being used?

14. The changing role of religion in a global context
Weberian model is also reflected in Latin America: Pentecostalism preaches work ethic that accommodates capitalism (Peter Berger, 2003)
Pentecostalist values: ascetic way of life, hard work, self-discipline, abstinence from alcohol contribute to economic development
Also what definition of religion is being used?

15. The changing role of religion in a global context
What is Pentecostalism? The localisation of Christianity and assimilation of local myths, symbols and religious traditions
Instead of replacing indigenous religious forms, Pentecostalism creates new local religious forms, combining Christian belief system with local religious notions and practices
Also what definition of religion is being used?

16. The changing role of religion in a global context
Work ethics alone may not be sufficient as material conditions (resources) have equal value
For example: North and South Brazil have similar value system but different economic resources and as a result S. Brazil is more developed (Peter Berger, 2003)
Also what definition of religion is being used?

17. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
2. The ability of religion to construct a reaction against modernity
Fundamentalist manifestation of religion:
from consensus to conflict,
from acceptance to rejection,
from harmony to reaction
Also what definition of religion is being used?

18. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
2. The ability of religion to construct a reaction against modernity
Anthony Giddens’ (1990) distinction between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism
Also what definition of religion is being used?

19. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Individual exercise: What does fundamental mean to you?
Think/choose ONE WORD
Literalist interpretation of the holy scriptures
Totalising tendency of lifeworld
Open to changes and progress: reflexive
Accepts diversity
Tolerant towards ‘difference’: respect of personal choice
Intolerant towards ‘difference’
Provides certainty in an uncertain, changing world
Also what definition of religion is being used?

20. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
2. The ability of religion to construct a reaction against modernity
Literalist interpretation of the holy scriptures
Totalising tendency of lifeworld
Intolerant towards ‘difference’
Provides certainty in an uncertain, changing world
Also what definition of religion is being used?

21. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Anthony Giddens (1990) distinction between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism:
Open to changes and progress: reflexive
Accepts diversity
Tolerant towards ‘difference’: respect of personal choice
Also what definition of religion is being used?

22. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Postmodernism offers competing versions of life as against ‘fundamentalism’ that advocates absolute truth (Bauman, 1992)
Castells’ distinction between ‘resistant’ and ‘project’ identities
Also what definition of religion is being used?

23. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Resistant identity: a defensive reaction against the pressures of modern life
Project identity: creative response to the pressures of modern life and responding through social movements such as feminism and environmentalism
Also what definition of religion is being used?

24. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Steve Bruce (2007) associates fundamentalism with monotheism rather than polytheism because in monotheist religion such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Existence of an authentic revealed source defies
such as Koran, Bible different interpretations
of life
2. A distinctive way of life
Also what definition of religion is being used?

25. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Steve Bruce (2007)
Polytheistic religions unlikely to produce fundamentalism such as Hinduism
Fundamentalism could be a response to internal or external challenges
The rise of New Christian Right as an example of internal dynamics such as sexual permissiveness, secular education and abortion rights
Islamic fundamentalism mainly a response to external (Western) values
Also what definition of religion is being used?

26. The changing role of religion in a global context: Religious fundamentalism
Criticism of Giddens, Bauman and Castells by Beckford (2003)
The dichotomy of fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism ignores hybrid movements
There could be various versions of fundamentalism: ‘fundamentalism is not a neat/clean category
Fundamentalism can equally be reflexive because reinventing tradition is also a modern phenomenon
Also what definition of religion is being used?

27. The changing role of religion in a global context: Cultural defence
3. Religion becomes the agenda to mobilize people, thus uniting them against a foreign/external threat
So apart from religions’ contribution to economic development or religions’ reaction against modernity, religions have played a cultural role
Two case studies exhibit this trend: Poland and Iran
Also what definition of religion is being used?

28. The changing role of religion in a global context: Cultural defence
3. Religion becomes the agenda to mobilize people, thus uniting them against a foreign/external threat
Poland: under communist regime ( )
Church a rallying point to mobilize and unite people
Church participation in Solidarity movement
Also what definition of religion is being used?

29. The changing role of religion in a global context: Cultural defence
3. Religion becomes the agenda to mobilize people, thus uniting them against a foreign/external threat
Iran:
Shah of Iran (1950s): Injecting modernisation in Iranian society such as restrictions on veiling and introduction of Persian calendar
Also what definition of religion is being used?

30. The changing role of religion in a global context: Cultural defence
3. Religion becomes the agenda to mobilize people, thus uniting them against a foreign/external threat
Iran: Ayattollah Khomeini’s Islamic revolution in 1979 mobilized masses: Islam a rallying point
Reactions against modernisation and westernisation agenda
Also what definition of religion is being used?

31. The changing role of religion in a global context: Cultural defence: Religion and ‘clash of civilisations’
Samuel Huntington’s (1993) ‘Clash of civilisations’: an analysis of the post-1989 scenario
The end of cold war: political differences have lost its value
Religion may assume a new force to shape identity
Religion may provide outlets to older conflicts
Islam poses a serious threat to the Christian identity of he West
Also what definition of religion is being used?

32. Religion and ‘clash of civilisations’: a critique
It is an instance of ‘orientalism’ (Jackson, 2006)
Huntington ignores religions diversity and important differences within the civilisations e.g. Shi’a and Sunni in Islam (Casanova, 2005)
Huntington is inventing a new enemy because a tiny minority amongst 1.5 billion Muslims cannot represent the true picture (Horrie and Chippindale, 2003)
Fundamentalism is a reaction to western foreign policy in Muslims countries (Karen Armstrong, 2001)
Also what definition of religion is being used?

33. A quick recap
The rapidly emerging economic class in India is oriented towards religion/secularisation
Confucian values contributed to the rise of capitalism in ‘East Asian tiger economies’/ Latin America
Pentecostalism preaches work ethic that accommodates capitalism (T/F)
Fundamentalism is the literal interpretation of religion (T/F)
Cosmopolitanism is open to changes and progress (T/F)
The idea of ‘Clash of civilisations’ suggests that religion may assume a new force to shape identity
Also what definition of religion is being used?