globalisation

• Secularization


  Long-term trend in Western Europe
• Secularization is not the case in the rest of the world
• Globalization


  Renewal of faith in some parts of the world
• Globalization


  • Provided greater diversity of religious and spiritual practices through migration and improved technology/communications
  • Seen the rise of fundamentalism in some areas like the USA, Africa, and the Middle East
• Fundamentalism


  Reaction to globalization and cultural defense
• Reactions to globalization with relation to religious practices (Peter Beyer)


  1. Increased particularism

  2. Universalism

  3. Marginalization
• Particularism


  As society becomes more interconnected, the imposition of cultural homogeneity (global culture based on Western values) has led to a growth of fundamentalism as religion is seen as the opposite of cultural homogeneity
• Universalism


  Major religions have increasingly focused on what unites them, with religious leaders coming together to speak on global concerns
• Marginalization


  Religion is increasingly playing less part in public life, though this may be due to other social changes rather than just globalization
• In the USA, religion still plays a major part in the election of the president
• Religion and consumerism (David Lyon)


  Globalization has given individuals more choice as consumers, leading to an increase in new forms of religion with the advent of the internet and improved media/communications
• Online religion and religion online (Helen)


  The internet has created both newer movements based and confined to cyberspace, and the use of new technologies to improve engagement with more traditional religious ideas
• Increased migration in the era of globalization

  Spread of people and the religions they practice, removing the idea that the identity of a nation is tied to its religious beliefs
• Fundamentalism (Giddens)


  Globalization has caused significant levels of insecurity for people, and faiths with very clear rules and absolute truths have proved very attractive as they offer simple answers in a world of confusion and uncertainty