WORLD OF IDEAS 1

PREVIEW:
 ASEAN and other regional groupings provide an avenue for the Member States in the
same region to settle disputes and any problem between members in a speedy manner.
 Countries from regional associations form military defense. Today, the advancement of
practical defense and military cooperation aims to protect the territory against
terrorism. Its ASEAN Member States work together to maintain regional peace and
security; when there is peace and security, there is development.
 The ASEAN and UN are mutually re-enforcing. The ASEAN millennium development goal
are patterned after the UN’s SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL.
 Philippines actively responded to the ASEAN and UN’s SDG’s. The ASEAN and other
regional associations may not be a perfect international organization, but its
contribution to achieve global sustainable peace and development is unquestionable.
 Todays, global politics, economy, means of communication, technology, shouldn’t have
on pedestal if not because of globalization. Globalization affects every kind of system
and operation on the planet including our daily practices.

RELIGION AND GLOBALIZATION & MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION

Arjun Appadurai presented the 5 areas where globalization processes take place. This area is
called “THE SCAPES” which are: ethnoscapes, mediascapes, technoscapes, financescapes,
ideoscapes. ethnoscapes

Ethnoscapes and Ethnoscapes refers to the global movement of people while

mediascapes are the factors
which contribute to the
spread out the impact of
globalization in a speedy
manner in different parts of
the world.
Mediascapes is about flow of culture.
500 years ago, the flow of culture from places/territories, separated
by international borders came about through the movement of people
to and frow in the different places/territories.
Example: when the Spaniards came to our country, many of the
Filipino practices were altered; system of government, educational
systems, language, fashion.

30 years back, when working abroad became rampant, many Filipinos went abroad and when they returned,
they brought with them the new trendy fashion, gadgets, food preferences, etc. This phenomenon gradually
altered the preference of Filipinos from what they used to practice to what they newly encountered.
 10-20 years back, the rise of cellular phones, internet connections, google, Facebook and other social media
applications created a crazy pacing of spreading and intersecting of different culture around the globe.
Example: A pair of earrings worn by Jennifer Lawrence could be seen by anybody through the access of
television or smartphone. By the next day, one can buy the imitation of that earring online.
However, this is impossible in 1929, during the first-year celebration of the academy awards.
The world before and now is different due to the birth of technology.

GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION

Globalization perse is not what religion is against with instead religion is against with the idea
that due to modernization, people become materialistic, profit-driven, wealth-oriented, etc.
It is not globalization it’s against with, but globalism.

Religion promotes holiness in life, Globalism promotes material wealth

follows divine commandment, spreads
holy ideas through evangelization, and
directs human lives to heaven as the
goal of existence.
as the primary needs of the people,
follows purely human laws, spread
goods and services, and directs human
life on how to enrich profit, revenue
collection, trade, and any form of
material satisfaction.

José Casanova
While religious organizations of different religions like Mission Society “Religion has always been a
of the Philippines (MSP) by Roman Catholic, spread the holy ideas center of all grateful political
around the globe, globalism make sure to spread the knowledge on conflicts, movements and social
AGE OF
how to improve trading and profit. Religions benefit from reform.
DISCOVERY Globalization.
EXAMPLE:
500 YEARS AGO, Religions have contributed to the changes of political and The liberation ideology movement
TERRITORIAL economic situation of many territories around the world. in south American countries,
EXPANSIONISM headed mostly by catholic priests.
If we are to go back to the history, 500 years ago, during the
territorial expansionism, age of discovery, western EDSA 1, this movements paved
civilization made use of the state and religion to spread out western the way of more democratic,
influence in the east. The words “in the name of the king and god” humane way of state governance
(Max Weber), was used every time the colonizers had colonized the which the citizens are enjoying
later, colonists. This means that, religion had a huge role in the until today.
intensification and expansion of global connections which we call as “globalization”.
Religion use globalization to spread its influence in a speedy manner, all over the world.
Before, spreading religion was done through sending missionaries to the different part of the
world. Nowadays, the method has improved; though missions is still done by most religious
groups, the use of technologies revolutionized the evangelization. The technology creates an
improved version of identity. However, technology did not erase the identity of religion, instead it
improved the manner of promoting the holiness.

Example: The mass celebration of Vatican, presided by the Pope is accessible not only to those in
Vatican, but to everybody who lives around the world due to the advent of technology and social media
applications.

One does not need to bring a bible every day to be able to read the bible, one can download the online
version of the bible. Globalization has been a great use in religious contexts because the product of
globalization (printing machine) has been the catalyst for the massive production of religious articles
and journals.

Consequently, globalization becomes an instrument of religions to spread out their missions and shape
the world, the morality of people, consciousness of people and the direction of the lives of people base
on the consciousness of religion.

HOW RELIGIONS CAN PREVENT THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION TO THE PEOPLES
CONSCIOUSNESS.

Some religious members believe that globalization is like a trojan horse, that will displace religion.
Modernization will eventually erode religious practices as pointed out by the advocates of
Secularization theory. Others would say that; globalization is a throw away culture, destined to fatally
suffocate hope and increase threat the life of the people. Many religious people were afraid that
globalization would rupture relationship and increase greed, injustice, and other forms of violence.
EXAMPLE: How the technology affects human relationship.

Indeed, technology connects two people separated by distance, it gradually aggresses the fear of long-
distance relationship. However, the same technology blocks personal communication between two
people living together; it gradually diminishes the capability of an individual to create a personal and
real connection with others. This technology forms a virtual form of connection, virtual appreciation,
and virtual relationship.

This type of human connection is determined and decided by the MBPS of one’s internet connection.
Religious rights are mean to improve relationship between man, God and among its members.

Connects people to God

Connects people to other people

 However, these rights (liturgy of the word, liturgy of the eucharist, charismatic night, etc.) are
jeopardized by the advent of technology.

In the advent of technology, many religious members opted to participate in the religious participation
at the comfort of their home using smartphones. Moreover, the criticism about the danger of
globalization towards religion, created an avenue towards both secular organizations and religious
groups to work together for the improvement of lives of the people.

EXAMPLES OF THIS COLLABORATION:

Mindanao Peace Building Institute – to address the historic Mindanao conflict and to
achieve sustainable peace and development in the island.
RELIGIOUS ANTI-POVERTY PROJECTS IN KENYA AND ETHIOPIA – supported by world bank

Religion and globalization are two forces that pull each other; while globalization alters many practices
of religion, the religion as well contributes to the spread of the idea of globalization. Some theories
supported the connection of religion and globalization.

MAX WEBER  This idea caved in because of how the colonizers made use the name of God and
“There is a correlation king in expanding their territories during the period of expansionism.
between religion and Old history told us that religion was a great help to make a peaceful meeting with the
capitalism.” Spaniards and the ruler of Cebu. It is clear evidence of how religion contributed the
success of the territorial expansion of the West.

Example: A religious person and a secular person go together in the church every
Samuel P. Huntington
Sundays, these two people have different priorities in life but united by a common
(an advocate of classing
faith, the faith in the supernatural.
civilization) he agreed
with the idea and, but he Lastly, Peter Beyer and Lori Beaman argued that globalization is both a problem
supported that religion and a potential. If religion can keep its practices intact while using globalization to
and religious views can spread out influence, then globalization can become a potential tool for any religion
hold together civilization to thrive, strengthen and grow the organization.
despite having different
perspectives.

 The reason for these ethnoscapes varies from persons, travel, teaching
ETHNOSCAPES
opportunities, public forums, work, vacation, and study.
The primary reason
for the spread of ideas Today, now we have TV, social media, books, magazines, etc. as another source of
from one culture to quick and easy dissemination of cultural ideas from one place to another.
other.
EXAMPLE 1: The fashion statement of the west is shown in various TV programs that
we, Filipinos follow, so one can encounter a Filipino who is wearing a loose shirt,
shorts, huge necklace, and a cap. The TV can change in the behavior of people
 ABINALES & CLAUDIO Before, the TV was created, people sit and gather in front of a fire and tell stories but
today people seat in front of the TV to listen to stories.
The action is the
same, but the
medium is different

MARSHALL MCLUHAN
Media is a form of The creation of the media changes the consciousness and practices of the
technology that society.
reshapes societies.

2 POINTS TO CONSIDER

The common understanding is the message
brought by the media alters the
consciousness and perspectives of the
viewers.
EXAMPLE: The political views and opinions
of people varies on how the media portrays
political situation.
The media itself alters the behavior and practices of the people.
The media itself serves as the message that changes the
behavior and practices of the people.
EXAMPLE: Before the advent of smartphones, post offices were
busy every day, being a post man is a good source of income and
writing pages of papers is exciting but today, post offices are
closed, postman jobs are rare and writing pages are boring

McLuhan added that media expands human communication but dull the users’ communicative
capabilities.
EXAMPLE: The invention of Papyrus of Egypt in 4 B.C

Storytellers back then no longer rely on memories because the stories that is orally transmitted, can be
written on the Papyrus.
Another example is the impact of mobile phones to the users.

 Before when friends decided to meet for Chit-Chat, the objective is to really enjoy talking each
other. Today, friends gather for chit-chat, but everyone is busy with their phones.

INDEED, MOBILE Thus, the media made the social change possible, and the message brought by the medium.
PHONES CONNECT
DISTANCE IT IS THE MEDIA THAT ALTERS THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SOCIETY.
RELATIONSHIP BUT The rise of technologies for mass communication namely; print media (newspaper,
DISCONNECT AND magazine), broadcast media (TV, radio), digital media (internet, mobile phones)
DISRUPT PERSONAL
endangered the uniqueness of each culture. The different cultures of the world will
RELATIONSHIPS.
become homogenized (similar), there will be no unique culture but mixed culture.
 CULTURAL  EXAMPLE: The inventor of television and the producer content of the TV
IMPERIALISM program will most likely influence and alter the cognitive perspective of the viewers.
THEORY The American way life and
This theory suggest  fashion influence oriental people live their life.
that the small JOHN TOMLINSON
culture will be The culture of consumerism has impacted the lives of non-American through media
enveloped by huge influence.
cultures. He also added that “non-cultural globalization is Western Cultural Imperialism.”

Indeed, Tomlinson’s claim has a point however it doesn’t apply anymore to present situation.
EXAMPLE: Countries from the East (KPOP), (ANIME), (KDRAMA) are outperforming the West in
musical artistic influence. It is spreading its influence not only in ASEAN continent but also in
European countries and American continents.

CRITICS OF CULTURAL
IMPERIALISM THEORY media messages are not just made by media producers but are also processed and
consumed by audience critics.
Ambot yawa This means that, viewers watch and appreciate media creation not simply because they
are socially controlled but because they relate to the program and the message of the
program.

Globalization is not simply directional in which foreign cultures overwhelmed local

cultures. Globalization is not about huge develop and enveloping culture.
Globalization is a meeting, intersecting of cultures while preserving its uniqueness.

So, instead of hearing about the changes brought by globalization, everyone must collectively discover
ways of dealing them responsibly.

THIS DISCUSSION EXAMINES THE EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION, THE RELIGIOUS

IDENTITY OF PEOPLE, IDEAS ON HOW RELIGIONS THRIVE IN A GLOBALIZED
WORLD. FURTHER, THIS DISCUSSION EMPHASIZES FUNCTION OF MEDIA IN
SHAPING CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SOCIETY.
THE MEDIA AND THE MESSAGE BROUGHT BY THE MEDIA CREATE BIG CHANGES
IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. HENCE, ONE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL MEDIA FROM
DICTATING ONE’S LIFE