religion and development

• god and globalisation


  globalisation has caused rapid economic growth in india and created a new prospering middle class. neera examines the role of hinduism, which is the religion of 85% of the country, in legitimising a hindu 'ultra-nationalism' and the prosperity of the middle class
• hinduism and consumerism

  one effect of globalisation is the creation of a prosperous and scientifically educated middle class who should be the first to become secularised

  • nanda - however this middle class is more religious than the rural illiterate working class and 30% report that they are becoming more religious
  • an increase of religious tourism to shrines etc. means religiosity is becoming a trend
  • they are more attracted to what were previously low-status village gods that used to be worshipped by the poor which are viewed as more responsive
• explaining hinduism and consumerism

  nanda - increasing religiosity of the indian middle class stems from an ambivalence about their newfound wealth

  • there is a tension between traditional hindu ascetism and the new wealth of the middle class
  • this is resolved by tele-gurus who preach that desire is a manifestation of divinity that motivates people and isn't a bad thing
  • tele-gurus also dispense business-friendly forms of hinduism that teach that consumerism can be spiritually balanced by paynig for expensive rituals
  • modern versions of hinduism legitimise the position of the middle class
• hindu ultra-nationalism

  nanda - india's global success is increasingly marketed as a result of the superiority of hindu values, an idea that is promoted bu the government and media

  • 93% of indians agreed with the statement 'our people aren't perfect, but our culture is superior to others' - the most of any country
  • worshipping hindu gods has become the same as worshipping the indian nation - a civil religion (bellah) - which creates a widening gap between non-hindu minorities and hinduism
  • hinduism has also penetrated public life eg. hindu sciences such as astrology are taught at university
• capitalism in east asia

  east asian tiger economies such as south korea, singapore and taiwan have industralised and become global powerhouses

  • redding - weber's spirit of capitalism is present in chinese entrepeneurs whose post-confucian values encourage hard work, self discipline and self-improvement
  • this has a similar effect to the protestant work ethic as it leads to economic growth and the accumulation of wealth
• pentecostalism in latin america

  berger - latin american pentecostalism acts as a 'functional equivalent' to the protestant ethic as it similarly encourages capitalism

  • latin american pentecostalists live an ascetic lifestyle with an emphasis on personal discipline, hard work and an abstinence from alcohol
  • in this way there is a strong affinity between pentecostalism and modern capitalism
  • this is needed to raise a country out of poverty, and can be led by a minority
  • however suggests natural resources are also necessary and the work ethic alone isn't enough to produce economic development
• pentecostalism - global and local

  lehmann - there are two phases in the expansion of christianity out of europe
• local pentecostalism


  lehmann - pentecostalism has been successful as it is able to incorporate local beliefs

  • its message is similar worldwide but it uses imagery and symbolism drawn from local cultures, especially spirit possession cults
  • attack cults and use exorcisms on evil spirits which validates local beliefs while allowing people access christianity
  • creates new local religious forms rather than replacing them forcibly
  • this ability to adapt makes it successful in all countries, particulalry as it can appeal to the poor which make up a large proportion of developing countries
• global pentecostalism

  lehmann - there are two phases in the expansion of christianity out of europe

  1. colonialisation imposes christianity on indigenous populations, often by forcibly suppressing new religions
  2. in the last century or so it has spread because it gained a popular following