Religion : Causes And Complications Of Religion And Globalization

Secularisation theory has argued that modernisation has undermined religion. The importance of science and technology on economic development and rational worldview on which they depend on are seen as destroying the belief in supernatural. However religion can contribute to development, but most recently sociologists have examined what role religion may play in development in today’s globalising world.

Religion played a huge influence in the development of western civilization so a good place to start is the medieval times. Charles Martel, mayor of the franks stopped the Muslim invasion from much of Europe at the battle of tours so there was little Muslim influence to the western civilization. This allowed a very powerful Christian Church to emerge and religion to flourish. Religion was very important for the middle ages and in reality it became the most powerful force in Europe. The teachings and practices played a major part in reshaping the lives of the European Christians. One of the most important achievements of the Church was to Christianize the diverse people in Western Europe. Religion influenced the development of western civilization through Monks and Nuns, power, reforming to change the church, and corruption against other nations.

In a process begun in the nineteenth century and accelerated in the twentieth, the great religions of the world became truly global in the geographic distribution of their adherents and so

In his book, A Critical Introduction to the Study of World Religions, Craig Martin aims to introduce undergraduate students to a socio-functional approach in exposing the methods in which religion disrupts class equality. He succeeds by using intelligible explanations, arguments, and examples to skeptically understand how man is shaped by religion.

Once a culture accepts the innovations that come along with globalization it depends on each community to either completely transform their way of living or keep their traditions. As Appiah notes, “how people respond to these cultural imports depends on their existing cultural context” (Appiah 3) meaning that people interpret the innovations according to their former beliefs and cultures since things might change but their mentality does not. However, in my opinion globalization has more advantages than disadvantages and it is up to each individual to apply those advantages for the best while still following their old traditions. For example, families that are secure and rich usually have the power to control their children in guiding and supporting them throughout their teenage lives. Hence, the younger generations are more open to following their family traditions. However, the families that have issues to support their families by using food stamps or working 3 different jobs usually have less influence and control over their children. Therefore, these children begin to question their families’ core values and traditions and begin to adapt their own new way of life. Nevertheless, religion is something

Theories of globalization present a more difficult task for Beyer, as he must not only establish what globalization is, but religion’s place within it. He explores the problem in various ways through the rest of the first part of the book. Beyer rests his analysis upon the work of Luhmann primarily, but also that of Immanuel Wallerstein, John Meyer, and Roland Robertson. Using Luhmann, Beyer resolves the theoretical debate of whether globalization is a homogenization of all particularities under a common social rubric or a simpler transformation of

Throughout history, different civilizations have been exchanging and spreading ideas. Of these ideas, religion often spreads the most drastically, finding new roots in places throughout the world. These spreading religions can greatly affect the nations they spread to, often impacting the political, social, and economic aspects of an area. Religions such as Buddhism in Japan and Christianity in the Americas allowed their monarchies to strengthen their reign on their citizens, adapt their societies to the new theologies, and cultivate wealth through both trade and conquest.

How has the geography of religion evolved over the centuries? The region has evolved in many ways for example the birth of KRISHNA too place in 3,000 B.C, Hinduism started around 1,500 B.C. in India and grew then the birth of ABRAHAM around 1,500 B.C. Judaism began as the covenant between God and Abraham around 1812 B.C. shortly after where the Israelites conquer Levant, the birth of Buddhism began around the 6th century into present day in Lumbini, Nepal and it is one of the oldest religion today. The map displays the spread of certain religions that stayed mainly in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Islam started in 610 through the Arabian Peninsula. Christianity was developed out of Judaism in the 1st century and was founded on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that Jesus was the son of God. Christianity and Islam expanded throughout the world becoming the two most dominant religions overtime. Christianity spread abroad and was the main religion throughout the world with Islam following. The map again displays that Christianity spread throughout with Islam and Judaism mostly in the middle east, Hinduism and Buddhism in India and Asia.

List and describe the eight elements that are developed in varying degrees in most religions?

As Protestantism began to spread in Europe, tension arose between Catholics and Protestants. The tension caused war between monarchs, nobles, and common people over religion. However, the many wars evolved into being about much more than religion; they became about politics and specifically, a struggle for power. Many people throughout Europe saw religion as a perfect pretext for the real reason of war: power. Through the seemingly infinite wars of religion, politics and religion came hand in hand. As exemplified by the Dutch Revolt and the Thirty Years’ War, religion was the starting cause of both wars, but political power was the true justification in the end.

The accomplishments and success of civilizations are closely linked to their religious outlook and the role of religion in their governments and society. Throughout history rulers have used the influence of religions to control their populations and provide the justification for their power. A society with a greater degree of separation between religion and government promotes a superior level of liberty and creativity amongst its people. By the time of the decline of the Roman Empire in the west, however, the world had come full circle to a return to theocratic dictatorship.

Because of this, many people believe that because of globalization, the older traditions will begin to vanish and the western views will slowly take over. Appiah contrast this statement by saying that because of globalization, cultures are now spread out around the world more evenly instead of just remaining in certain parts of the world (Appiah,6). This gives people a better chance to truly find themselves. Appiah demonstrates that religions are strong enough to disregard anything said or done in society, and stay true to its faith (Appiah, 6). Appiah also counteracts statements said by the UNESCO, a group that acknowledges globalization has a negative effect. UNESCO encourages and supports ideas that are very similar to globalization such

In Appiah’s analysis on globalization when addressing in a religious point of view, religion can be both positive or negative. At one end religion is used in a positive manner to protect one’s culture during globalization. It allows people to maintain cultural values despite being exposed to the external media. Religion keeps folks rooted to their culture while the world around them vastly expands. For example in the case of South African student Sipho, who described himself as being a very, very strong Zulu male. Sipho who grew up very typical and traditional to his Zulu culture was able to experience globalization in many ways after watching “Days of Our lives”. An American hit Television program. From the show he learns how to better understand

Religion has been a powerful force in human history. Mankind has longed and searched for the answers to its purpose, the reason for being and the possibility of life after physical death. They reasoned that an afterlife would be a place of accounting and reckoning for the life they lived on earth. Religious belief systems seemed to give the answers as to how to prepare for the afterlife. Religion became the means of giving answers to those basic yet deep-seated questions of both life and death. Religion provided a format of rules and laws for conduct and treatment toward others based on the desires and wishes of a god or gods that people envisioned, imagined or invented. Religious belief systems have been a powerful force for good and bad...good in the sense that it provided a measure of individual behavior and order in society for the wellbeing of the whole, but bad in the sense that men of ambition who craved power and control over others would often use religion as a tool of manipulation and fear. A casual glance of history tells us that complete civilizations have been built, grown and maintained around elaborate religious systems, ancient Egypt being a prime example.

Lastly, religions play an important role too by gathering people scattered across the globe under an identical cosmology, thus creating imagined communities (Anderson, 1983). Globalization, by connecting people through the media, also creates such a community: inhabitants of the world share the idea of a global community and an international identity. This is why we could define globalization as the compression of time and space (Harvey, 1983). Communications as well as people can travel at an ever increasing speed, thereby giving the impression that every corner of the world is at hand. The main thesis about globalization argues that it leads to a phenomenon of homogenization. My hypothesis however is that some cultures are so different and so deeply rooted in their environment that they can't simply be erased. They will be modified, influenced but not standardized under one unique model. This will lead to hybrid products, thereby proving the hypothesis of glocalization, introduced by