Religion in a global context

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Religion in a global context

Religous fundamentalism

The characteristics of fundamentalism appeal to tradition as they often seek to go back to a golden age of the past. It is different to traditional religon, it arises only when beliefs and values are threatened or challenged by modern society. The changes to society often come from the outside either through military invasion or capitalist globalisation. The changes also come from within and they can stem from new secular ideas such as liberal attidtitudes to sexuality or gender. 

There are key charactericstics to fundamentalism within religon. An authourative sacrid text. The text is without question and every word is taken to be true. From political thoughts to isssues surrounding family life. As aldridge (2013) noted, "no text speaks for itself, it needs to be interpreted". So in reality what the fundamentalists hold to be true is not the text but their interpretation. They interpret the bible to be historical fact and ignore other interpretations that may be purley metaphorical. Fundalmentalists have an us and them mentality and as Davie identifed they seek to establish islands of uncertainty in what they see as cultural and social chaos. 

Fundamentalism and modernity

As davie argues, fundamentalism occurs where those who hold traditional orthodox beliefs and values are threatened by modernity and feel the need to defend the themselves against it. In this sense fundamentalists are products of modernity, they are born of a clash between modern culture and traditonal culture. Similarly, Giddens argues that fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation, which undermines norms concerning the family, gender and sexuality. In todays modern society individuals are faced with constant choice, risk and uncertainty. The attratction to fundamentalism in its rigid and dogmatic beliefs seeks to find certainty in an uncertain world. It is a retreat into faith based answers that can provide certainty.

Cosmopilitanism - This was  found by Giddens and is a contrasting view to fundamentalism. It embraces moderinty and seeks to keep up with the modern world. It involves being open to new views and keeping an open mind. It wants you to justify views with rational thinking. Cosmoplitan reiligon seeks to self reflect and and emphasises the pursuit of self meaning. 

Responses to postmodernity- Castels identifies two responses to post modernity. The are Restistance identity. A defensive reaction of those who feel threatened and retreat into fundamentalist communitys. OR project identity, the response of those who are forward looking and engage with modern movements such as feminism and environmentalism.

Critisims - Beckford criticises them on several grounds. They distinguish too sharply between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism ignoring hybrid movements. They are fixaeted on fundamentalism and dont consider how globalisation affects non-fundamentalist movements such as catholism. Giddens lumps all kinds of fundamentalism together ignoring important differences between them. For example religous fundamentalism can occur through failure by governments to amend living standards. 

Monotheism and fundamentalism. Bruce says that fundamentalism…

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