Globalization and

Religion
23.05.17
Rebeca de Assis, Kang Taesik, Jojo Chih Jin Ru, Patricia Hauf
Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

2
What is Religion?

Religion is difficult to describe and realize,

because human belief structures are varied
and complex. Religion is strongly connected to culture.
Religion Definition
2/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power,

especially a personal God or gods.

„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 supernatural entities with powers of action, or impersonal
powers or processes possessed of moral purpose.”

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).

Definitions of religion differentiate between personal beliefs and organized religion.

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Religious Actors - Groups Statistics
3/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

Religion Members Percentage

• Religious actors Christianity 2.1 billion 33.0%

Islam 1.5 billion 21
Hinduism 900 million 14
• individuals or groups, who act on consistent Buddhism 376 million 6
messages regarding the relationship between Sikhism 23 million 0.36
religion, politics and society Judaism 14 million 0.22
Bahaism 7 million 0.1
• religious actors are among the oldest of Confucianism 6.3 million 0.1
transnationals – carrying words and praxis across Jainism 4.2 million 0.1
vast spaces Shintoism 4 million 0.0

Encyclopaedia Britannica (2005),

www.adherents.com.

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Religious Actors – Prevailing Beliefs
4/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

in the World
The spread of religion

•Pilgrimage and tourism is a major

force in the globalization of culture
•Christians often pilger to holy sites
e.g. Jerusalem
•Muslims should travel to Mecca to
undertake the haji at least once in
their life, connecting also to the
Islamic communes around the world

Cultural exchange, missionary

activity and pilgrimages are
important sectors, which promoted
the process of globalization.

http://d3tt741pwxqwm0.cloudfront.net/WGBH/sj14/sj14-int-religmap/index.html

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World Relgions

The “world religions” can be interpreted as responses to deep insecurities

produced by radical social disruptions.
How does it change with globalization?

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 The Silk Road– How Religions
6/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

Crossed Barriers
• Globalization began already 3000 years ago as the Silk Road
facilitated trade and cultural exchange (textiles, spices and even
religions were all exchanged along the Silk Road starting around
1,000 B.C.)
• The Silk Road presented religious communities with the most
efficient way to spread their beliefs  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
• Silk was extensively used in Buddhist ceremonies stimulating the
demand and facilitating trade along the Silk Road enhancing
globalization.
• 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  Chinese Buddhist traders
adopted Islamic medical knowledge in wound healing and urine
analysis

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The Silk Road– How Religions
7/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

Crossed Barriers

Known as the Silk Road, this vast expanse of intercultural trade routes
traversed Eurasia from the Mediterranean all the way to Japan,
crossing into India on the way. Textiles, spices and even religions were
all exchanged along the Silk Road starting around 1,000 B.C. and
continuing for several millenniums. For much of this time, Islam was
the dominant religion among Silk Road traders coming from western
Eurasia, and they brought with them their belief system and a culture
rich in tradition and advancements to millions of people.

Interconnectivity of trade, culture and religion enhanced globalization.

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 Globalization and Religion – A
8/8 - Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

Paradox
• Religious actors have been agents of globalization for centuries.
• Globalization is often associated with spreading same ideas and views (universalists)

 Samuel Huntingtion sees the universalists vs. individualists

• as “clash of civilizations” between the West and the Rest.
 Globalization does not lead to identical responses from all
• religious actors, but sometimes globalization is actively
• pursued by religious actors (Paradox)

• Example:
• Groups such as Al Qaeda oppose Westernization, but are at
the same
• time products of this phenomenon even utilizing the tools
and techniques
• to achieve their own globalizing aim

Religion and globalization share a paradoxical and mutually reinforcing relationship.

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Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

11
 1/6 - Impacts of Globalization

Impacts of Globalization on Religion

• Globalization has diverse, even paradoxical implications for religion.

• Globalization may have implied on faith in the following three possible impacts:
1)Religion is being eroded.
2)Religion is being strengthened.
3)Religion is declining but it has developed new identities of hybridity.

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 Cultural homogeneity / destruction
2/6 - Impacts of Globalization

vs Cultural pluralism
• The distinct norms, diferent cultures and diferent
• worshiping ways and practices will be wiped out by
• globalization which promotes homogeneity.

• Threat to traditions of religions, disintegrate

• traditional social norms and values by the
• invasion of consumerism, cyber culture and etc.

• Human rights are becoming the main issue in global

• world.
• Status of women
• Ritual killings and human sacrifice

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 3/6 - Impacts of Globalization

Conflicts vs Cooperation
• Internal and external conflicts – multipolar world

• Resurgence of conservative-traditionalist religious movements. These movements have been often labelled as
• religious fundamentalism.

• Religious fundamentalism:
1) 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 difers from traditionalism.
3) 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.

• People cannot bear these uncertainties, any movements, like religious fundamentalism, that are regarded to
• bring certainties back will gain its market and acceptance.
• Ex: India (Hinduism)

• Creation of extremists and terrorists

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 4/6 - Impacts of Globalization

Conflicts vs Cooperation
• 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 diferent religions and faith encounter each other
• in an atmosphere of freedom and openness for each partner to listen and understand each other.

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 5/6 - Impacts of Globalization

Spread of Religion vs Secularization

• 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.

• Information technologies, transportation means, and the

• media are deemed important means on which religionists rely
• in the dissemination of their religious ideas.

• EX: countless websites providing information about religions have

been created. 16
6/6 - Impacts of Globalization

Spread of Religion vs Secularization

• The increase of industrialization, urbanization and rationalization would bring about the
• decrease of religious faith.

• Religion would become less important factor in human life of modern society and a
• modern secular system would be a dominant force as theological system was falling down.

• Religion would eventually vanish from the lives of modern secular society.

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Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

18
 Homogenization as Threat for
Religions
• Homogenization might wipe out cultural diversity
• For example: Languages are dying at an alarming
rate.

• Friedman suggests that the break-down to only 8

unique civilizations is the result of
• globalization.

• Muslim dominance and control of trans-Asian trade

was the primary factor leading to the homogenization
of Central Asia and the Silk Road.

1/3 - Secularization 19
 2/3 - Secularization

Connectiveness of Globalization and

Religion
•Religion always sought to spread its message beyond frontiers
•  impact on globalization
•Globalization with its homogenization can disturb cultures, so that some
religions oppose it
•Some people might seek protection from globalization impacts and
foster opposition

•BUT
•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.

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 Secularization
Modernists
• All secularizations would look
alike ending up as same
“rational” philosophy.
• Enlightenment and
secularization spreads from
educated elite to other people,
whereas other religious
communities are marginal
• Globalization will eliminate
minorities in secularization
• Religious movements mean
useful corrections to distorted
modernization, but will
disappear after their temporary
role.
• Modernists wish all churches to
disappear having religious
fundamentalism as main enemy.
Secularization as consequence of globalization???
Post-Modernism
• Traditional pre-modern religions are
rejected.
• Core value is expressive
individualism rejecting also
enlightenment, rationalism, science
and structures of capitalism, even
liberalism.
• It can include spiritual experiences,
whereas the New Age movement
can be interpreted as the ideal
typical post-modernist spiritual
expression.
• Post-modernism is largely hyper-
secularism and joins modernism in
predicting and eagerly anticipating
the disappearance of traditional
religions.
3/3 - Secularization
Pre-Modernism
• Only in organized religious
communities people were willing to
sacrifice their individual security for
the greater movement. (Religious
faith and community made them
courageous and persistent in their
opposition.)
• As new ideology, human rights are
seen as the rights of individuals
independent of any hierarchy or
community, traditions or customs –
anywhere in the world as universal.
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Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

22
Extra Case – Extreme Buddhism in
Myanmar (Burma)•
Myanmar Religion and Extreme Buddhism
•- Buddhism 90%, Christianity 6%, Islam 4%
•- People regard Christians and Muslims as threats
•- Some Buddhist extremists attack other religious groups
•- 1988-2010, More than 300 terrors among religions groups

•Matthew - “How can Buddhists be extremists?”

•- Teachings of Buddhism : Mercy, Moderation
• Buddhist fundamentalist : Extreme hermit
•- Myanma : Buddhism + Nationalism = Identity
•- Ashin Wirathu : “A dog is better than a Muslim”

• Radicalization is not an issue just for Islam.

• It is also globalized.

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Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?

Q1 .What makes global religious resurgence ?

Q2. The future of religion in globalization : Ongoing conflict or coexistence ?
Q3. Can religion have positive influences on social change?
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Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?
Mark Juergensmeyer – “Why global religious resurgence?”
- Nation-state provided a secure sense of identity, accountability, and
security for stable society. However, nation-states have lost its role.
① Transnational economic systems undercut national structures
of authority and control.
② New communication networks made instant contact possible
across the world.
③ Massive demographic shift everywhere.
 The idea of a homogenous national cultural identity became a
relic of the past.
 People started to regard that religious community can provide identity,
accountability and security

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Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?

26
Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?
Samuel P. Huntington – The clash of civilizations
- The end of Cold War (ideology has gone)
- Different civilizations (based on different religions) confront
each other
- Religion is a main cause of the fault line between civilization

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Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?
Harald Müller – The coexistence of civilization
- The impact of globalization → Huge change in every aspect →
The impact to Identity → diverse responses to unfamiliarity
① Aggressive responses (religious fundamentalism, xenophobia)
② Receptive responses (attention and adaptation, coexistence)
- Communication and cooperation are the keys to coexistence
But How?
- Common perceptions : ① Respect for human right and dignity
② Improvement based on peace
→ Cultural exchange ,peaceful relationship
- Methods for mutual trust
① Government : Summit meeting, IGOs (more communications)
② Economy : Trade relation (interests by cooperation)
③ Society : The role of NGO ( Mediator between civilizations)
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Religion in Globalization : Ongoing
Conflict or Coexistence ?
Müller’s view on religion and globalization
- Different religion is one of important elements making different culture.
- Ignorance and repulsion on different culture make conflicts.
- Communication and understanding other culture is important for peace

- Globalization includes the evolution of communication, transportation,

and migrant. → More chances of communication.
- Globalization also intensifies the economic interdependence among
actors → People will perceive the economic benefit from cooperation
- Globalized NGO can hold “merciless global capital (Neo-liberalism)” in check

- As a result, these networks will help to make common values in the globe.
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(Humanity, Mutual Respect, Peace)
The communication for Future

In 2014, religious leaders from 7 different religions in Korea gathered

and visited the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Istanbul.

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The Religion‘s role in Globalization

Q. Can religion help to bring a positive social change?

33 Korean religious leaders Friedensgebet (prayer for peace)

led 3.1 Independence Movement became the seed of reunification
in Korea in 1919 in Germany in 1990 31
Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

32
 Basic beliefs of Islam
1/6 – Understanding of Islam

•Faith in God (“Allah” in Arab)

•Faith in angels

•Faith in the Holy Books: Koran and Sunnah/ Hadith

•Faith in the prophets and in the messengers sent by God

•Faith in the judgment day

•(Source: I. A. Ibrahim. “A Brief Ilustrated Guide to Understand ing Islam”)

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 2/6 – Understanding of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam

• Testimony of faith: “There is no true god (deity) but
God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger
(Prophet) of God.”

• Prayer: Five times a day

• Giving the “Zakat”: Support for the needy

• Fasting: In the month of Ramadan, Muslims must fast

from dawn until the sunset.

• Pilgrimage to Mecca: Every Muslim should go at least

once in their life time.
•
• (Source: I. A. Ibrahim. “A Brief Ilustrated Guide to Understand ing Islam”)

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 Main division within Islam
3/6 – Understanding of Islam

•Sunnis (85%) and Shiites (15%)

• Muslim population: More than 1 billion followers (2005)

• Disagreements regarding the succession of Prophet Muhammad:

• Bloodline vs. Selection

• Last Caliphate ended with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, in 1924.

•“Historically, the caliph was the successor to the prophet, the political leader of the
community, and therefore the head of the early transnational Islamic empire”. (John L.
Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Afairs and of Islamic Studies at
Georgetown University)

•Restoration of the Caliphate as a movement pushed especially by Sunni extremist groups

since the 20th century: Al Qaeda and ISIS

•(Source: Christopher M. Blanchard. “Islam: Sunniis and Shiites”)

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 4/6 – Understanding of Islam

Islam and Terrorism

• Misunderstanding and misuse of Islamic principles
derive mostly from the conception of Jihad: Internal
struggle to achieve self improvement, and external
struggle to fight against injustice and social oppression
through preaching and teaching.

• Extremist Muslim groups use this concept to

legitimate the idea of armed “Holy War”.

• However....

• Terrorism is not necessarily related to religion, let

alone to Islam.

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 5/6 – Understanding of Islam

Islam and Terrorism

• Definition of terrorism: “the threatened or actual use
of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to
attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal
through fear, coercion, or intimidation”. (Global
Terrorism Database)

• The term “terrorism” was first used during the French

Revolution to describe the actions of Jacobins.

• In the 19th century, the actions of terrorists were

motivated by anarchism, whereas in the 20th century
nationalism was the main cause.

• (Source:Parvez Ahmed. “Terror in the name of Islam”)

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 6/6 – Understanding of Islam

Islam and Terrorism

• Even when religion is related to terrorism, it does not
necessarily mean the Islam:
• “Between 1980 and 2003, the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group that recruits from the
predominantly Hindu Tamil population in Sri Lanka
and whose ideology is intertwined with Marxism, was
the world's leader in suicide terrorism.” (Parvez
Ahmed)

• Parvez also says that other major religions in the

world have produced terrorist groups: Catholic Irish
Republican Army (IRA)

• Distortion of religious principles.

• “The majority of the violence seen with Islamic

fundamentalists should be attributed to the religio-
political environment instead of the religion itself”
(Cassandra Rausch)

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Table of Contents

1 Religion – Definition, Meaning and Actors

2 Impact of Globalization on Religion

3 Secularization in different Theoretical Perspectives

4 Position of Religions towards Globalization today

5 Understanding of Islam

6 Relationship between Islam and the West / Christianity

7 Discussion

39
 1/3 – Relationship between Islam and the West/ Christianity

Historical background
• The Muslim- Western/ Christian opposition is not a
new idea.

• Byzantine Empire (continuation of the Roman Empire)

and Islamic Empire (Middle East and North Africa) in
the 11th century: Christian Crusades to conquer the
Holy City, project which ended up failing.

• Francis Robinson says that from the eighth till the

eighteenth century, “the community of believers
created by God’s revelation to humankind through the
Prophet Muhammad was regarded as walking hand in
hand with power.”

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 2/3 – Relationship between Islam and the West/ Christianity

Historical background
• Islamic civilization as the leader in terms of creativity:
great achievements in science, poetry and general
literature.

• However, Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798

marked the transference of leadership to the West.

• By the 1920’s, the Caliphate (symbolic leadership for

the community of believers) had been abolished.

• Throughout the 20th century, western rule widely

replaced the Muslim one with their own culture and
values.

• This phenomenon encouraged the birth of some

totalitarian/ revolutionary Islamic perspectives against
secular leaders: Example of the Iranian Revolution
1979.

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 Impacts of September 11th
3/3 – Relationship between Islam and the West/ Christianity

• “Dialogue of Civilizations”: Idea proclaimed by the Iranian president Muhammad Khatami

in the United Nations General Assembly in 1998.

•However, the possibilities of dialogue were greatly shaken by the September 11th

•Media and the creation of hysteria: “Why do they hate us?”

• USA declares war on terror: Afghanistan was invaded. Iraq, Syria and Iran were pointed
afterwards as the “other terrorist states” and were observed as potential targets.

•In the public mind, Islam started to be fundamentally associated with terrorism.

•Akbar S. Ahmed conclusion:

 There must be dialogue that leads to the true understanding of other civilizations

 “Muslims need to explain Islam to non-Muslims and non- Muslims need to make an
efort to be responsive to them”
•(Source: Akbar S. Ahmed. “Islam and the West: Clash or Dialogue of Civilizations?”)

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Q&A

43
 Discussion
• 1. When secularization increases – what could replace religion?

•
2. Is religion affected by globalization or does globalization affect religion?
If yes, how?

3. Do you see the possibility for religions to cooperate or there will be more religious
conflicts ?

4. Can liberal-democracy become a universal value?

If yes, will it be superior to religion and culture?

5. Do you think there is religious intolerance in your country? If yes, do you believe it has
increased or decreased throughout the years?

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Thank you for your attention!

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