The Globalizaion of

RELIGION
RELIGIO
“a worldN view, an ideology, an organization, an attitude,
of values, as moods and motivations, or as an ethical
a set

disposition."
Ole Preben Riis in “Methodology in the Sociology of
Religion” (20ll)
 RELIGIO
N
"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.”
The Penguin Dictionary of Religions
RELIGIO
N Christians declare that Christianity as ‘not a religion, but a
Some
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 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.
RELIGIO
N
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 supematural entities with powers of action, or
impersonal powers or processes possessed of moral purpose.”
 RELIGIO
N
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).

 Globalization began 3000 years ago as the Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange (for
example , 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 (I992) 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. 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 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 I 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.
 EMPACT OF
GLOBALIZATION
ON RELIGION
 EMPACT 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
 EMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGION

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

CONFICTS VS.
COOPERATION
 CONFICTS 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 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.
 CONFICTS VS. COOPERATION
People cannot bear these uncertainties - any movements, like religious fundamentalism, that are regarded to
bring certainties back will gain its market and acceptance (ie. 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 SPREAD OF RELIGION VS.SERCULATION
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.
 THE SPREAD OF RELIGION VS.SERCULATION
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 religions. Taking Islam as an example, we find such T.V_ channels 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
globalization 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 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.
 RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN
GLOBALIZATION AND
RELIGION
 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.
GROUP 4
Fabre
Gallaza
Ganzon
Gonzales