Globalisation
- Definition: Process by which there is growing interconnectedness of societies across the
world
- Globalisation, particularly through globalised mass media, has meant that different cultures
and religions have come into closer contact than ever before
- MEYER ET AL- This has meant growing religious diversity and many of the world’s religions
have become transnational
- No part of the world is constituted exclusively of one set of religious ideas
Examples of Globalisation
God and globalisation in India
- Globalisation has created a prosperous, scientifically educated urban middle class in India
- Secularisation theory argues that it is these type of people who will be the first to abandon
religion in favour of a secular worldview
- Yet, NANDA observes that a vast majority of this class continue to believe in the
supernatural
- Survey-Centre for Study of Developing Societies- Indians becoming more religious- 30% said
they had become more religious while only 5% said their religion had declined
- Survey also found that the urban educated Indians are more religious than their rural and
illiterate counterparts
- NANDA examines what motivates sophisticated urban middle classes to continue to believe
in miracles and the supernatural
- She argues that increasing religiosity is result of ambivalence over their newfound wealth
- Ambivalence stems from tension between Hindu belief in renunciation of materialism and
new prosperity of middle classes
- This is resolved by modern holy-men who preach the message that desire is not bad but a
manifestation of divinity which motivates people to do things
- Modern versions of Hinduism therefore legitimate position of the middle class and allow
them to adjust to globalised consumer capitalism
Hindu-Ultra Nationalism
- NANDA also examines role of Hinduism in legitimating triumphalist version of Indian
nationalism
- NANDA notes that India’s success in the global market is increasingly attributed to
superiority of Hindu values along with the idea that Hinduism is essence of Indian identity
- Hindu ultra-nationalism (worship of Hindu gods) has become same as worshiping nation of
India and Hinduism has become ‘civil religion’ (BELLAH)
Capitalism in East Asia
- Success of capitalism in East Asia has led some sociologists to argue that religion has played
a similar role to Calvinism in development of capitalism in 16th / 17th Cent Europe
- REDDING describes spirit of capitalism among Chinese entrepreneurs in the tiger economies
- Sees their post-Confucian values encouraging hard work, self-discipline and frugality
- Effect of this value system is similar to that of the Protestant ethic as it leads to economic
productivity and accumulation of capital
Pentecostalism in Latin America
- BERGER- Pentecostalism in Latin America acts as ‘functional equivalent’ to WEBER’S
protestant ethic
- Definition: Process by which there is growing interconnectedness of societies across the
world
- Globalisation, particularly through globalised mass media, has meant that different cultures
and religions have come into closer contact than ever before
- MEYER ET AL- This has meant growing religious diversity and many of the world’s religions
have become transnational
- No part of the world is constituted exclusively of one set of religious ideas
Examples of Globalisation
God and globalisation in India
- Globalisation has created a prosperous, scientifically educated urban middle class in India
- Secularisation theory argues that it is these type of people who will be the first to abandon
religion in favour of a secular worldview
- Yet, NANDA observes that a vast majority of this class continue to believe in the
supernatural
- Survey-Centre for Study of Developing Societies- Indians becoming more religious- 30% said
they had become more religious while only 5% said their religion had declined
- Survey also found that the urban educated Indians are more religious than their rural and
illiterate counterparts
- NANDA examines what motivates sophisticated urban middle classes to continue to believe
in miracles and the supernatural
- She argues that increasing religiosity is result of ambivalence over their newfound wealth
- Ambivalence stems from tension between Hindu belief in renunciation of materialism and
new prosperity of middle classes
- This is resolved by modern holy-men who preach the message that desire is not bad but a
manifestation of divinity which motivates people to do things
- Modern versions of Hinduism therefore legitimate position of the middle class and allow
them to adjust to globalised consumer capitalism
Hindu-Ultra Nationalism
- NANDA also examines role of Hinduism in legitimating triumphalist version of Indian
nationalism
- NANDA notes that India’s success in the global market is increasingly attributed to
superiority of Hindu values along with the idea that Hinduism is essence of Indian identity
- Hindu ultra-nationalism (worship of Hindu gods) has become same as worshiping nation of
India and Hinduism has become ‘civil religion’ (BELLAH)
Capitalism in East Asia
- Success of capitalism in East Asia has led some sociologists to argue that religion has played
a similar role to Calvinism in development of capitalism in 16th / 17th Cent Europe
- REDDING describes spirit of capitalism among Chinese entrepreneurs in the tiger economies
- Sees their post-Confucian values encouraging hard work, self-discipline and frugality
- Effect of this value system is similar to that of the Protestant ethic as it leads to economic
productivity and accumulation of capital
Pentecostalism in Latin America
- BERGER- Pentecostalism in Latin America acts as ‘functional equivalent’ to WEBER’S
protestant ethic
