Religion

1
Religion Globalisation
2
Peter Byer

• Globalisation peoples, cultures, societies
  and civilisations previously more or less
  isolated from one another are now in regular and
  almost unavoidable contact

3
Peter Byer Particularism vs Universalism

• Particularism an emphasis on the distinctive
  characteristics of particular groups.
• Universalism an emphasis on the similarities
  between peoples or societies or values which
  result from their common humanity

4
What happens when Particularism meets
Universalism ?

• In this situation religions does one of three
  things (according to Byer)
• Privatised religion becomes an
  individual/personal thing.
• Relativised religion can be used by people to
  reassert their identity, if they feel that they
  have lost it.
• Liberalised religions try to find common ground
  between one another on issues or similar aspects
  of their faith.

5
Samuel Huntington The Clash of Civilisations
(1993)

• the interactions between peoples of different
  civilisations are increasing these increasing
  interactions intensify civilisation
  consciousness
• Sometimes contact with other societies / cultures
  can sometimes lead to a focus on differences
  rather than similarities.

6
Huntington the loss of national identity

• In the modern world, identity is based on the
  civilisation that you are from rather than
  national identity.
• The following things have led to a decline in the
  national identity
• Political changes e.g. end of Cold War
• Economic Changes e.g. global capitalism
• Travel
• Creation of areas of regional cooperation e.g.
  The EU

7
Huntington loss of national identity cont

• Loss of national identity has resulted to people
  trying to reaffirm their civilisation
  Religion has been used to do this.
• Often Fundamentalist groups have taken on the
  role of reaffirming the civilisation
• Huntington believes this is evidence against
  secularistion
• Most of the conflict in the world is now the
  result of religious disputes rather than
  political ones.

8
Huntington the future

• He believes that different civilisations will
  have to learn to get on with one another,
  especially as more countries are developing
  nuclear weapons etc
• Huntington is not particularly optimistic about
  the future.