globalisation and religion

• Helland- the importance of globalisation and the media in shaping the way the public engages with religion. He discusses 2 ways people engage with religion on the internet (encourages religion):

  1. Religion online- use the internet to communicate messages to their followers
  2. Online religion- like-minded people interact in forums to discuss their beliefs and may create online communities that don't exist in the real world
• the role of mass migration (encourages religion):

  • Bird- many Anglican churches in the 50s were largely white and did not welcome other cultures
  • In reaction- African-Caribbeans set up their own churches
  • Explains the rapid rise of Pentecostalism in the UK
• Huntington- religion has become more important in ‘civilizational identity’ as other sources of identity are undermined. As a result, globalisation makes religion more important as a source of identity and conflict. (encourages religion)
• Globalisation undermining religion:

  • Technological innovations in travel and communication have underpinned globalisation, and have been accompanied by an increasing 'scientific outlook'. Some argue science undermines religion
  • Some aspects of cultural globalisation, such as the growth of consumer culture seem to undermine religious values – with some churches being converted into homes and shops in the West.
  • more contact with other religions and many religions undermines the authority of those religions which claim to have a monopoly on the truth, such as Christianity and Islam.