Socio 101 The Contemporary World

Chapter 8 Religion and Globalization

Learning Exercise 8

Name: Ludivina G. Lajot Subject: Socio 101 Time: 11:00-2:00 P.M Days: MWF
Course & Year: BSED-English 1st Year Professor: Dr. Joselito R. Garciano, PhD

ESSAY. Answer the following questions:

Guidelines in answering learning tasks/exercises/activities/assessments:

- always maintain a side margin of 1 inch (left and right);
- single spaced throughout your paper;
- use Times New Roman;
- font size must be 12;
- justify: align text to both the left and the right margins.
- answer the learning exercise/s by yourself with honesty, sincerity and substance;
- no link submission & use word or pdf file;
- simply follow the given instructions.

Instructions: Answer the questions with honesty, sincerity and substance.

Rubric:
Content - 70 %
Organization of ideas/concepts - 20 %
Grammar usage - 10 %
Total – 100 %

I. INSTRUCTIONS: Write TRUE if the given statement is correct, and FALSE if it is not.

1. True Religion is one of the drivers of globalization in the past.

2. True Glocalization of religion manifests the retention of one’s religion and culture in a
foreign land with completely different ways of life.
3. False It is impossible to bring along in one’s consciousness one’s religious orientations when
a person migrates to another country and thereby assimilate the culture and religion one has
migrated into.
4. False The migration of religion across the world has not been and no way can be a
characterizing feature of the 20th century world.
5. True Globalization enables people to move from one place to another and one timeline
to the next.
6. True Glocalization also is synonymous with the terms cultural hybrids.
7. False Religion is not part of a people’s culture even if it is a way of life.
8. False The migration of people across borders did not enable religion to spread widely
across the world.
9. True As globalization enables people to move from one place to another and one
timeline to the next, it would be easy to assert that this will farther lead to another development
in the realm of religion, culture, and the way people view and perceive the contemporary world.
10. True Jean Paul Sartre’s philosophy: “Man is cursed to make choices in life since
existence precedes essence.”

II. Discuss your thoughts logically with proofs.

1. Discuss the close relations between religion and globalization. (10 points)
Answer: First, this essay explains how globalization engenders greater religious tolerance across
areas such as politics, economics, and society. Second, it explains that as globalization does so, it
also disrupts traditional communities, causes economic marginalization, and brings individuals
mental stress, all of which create a backlash of religious parochialism. Third, although
globalization paves the way in bringing cultures, identities, and religions in direct contact, this
essay also explains that globalization brings religions to a circle of conflicts that reinforces their
specific identities. Finally, using three paradigmatic individuals and their use of religious ideals
in their human rights work, this essay provides some suggestions on how not just religions but
humanity can use existing religious principles as ways to overlook religious and cultural
differences.

2. In your own words, explain the aspect that enables religion to be one of the drivers
of globalization in the past. (10 points)
Answer: As a contested term, globalization has many definitions, each worthy of merit.
Generally, globalization is first thought of in economic and political terms, as a movement of
capitalism spreading across the globe. It calls to mind homogenizing exports of the US such as
Nike, McDonald’s, and MTV. However, since globalization can be defined as a process of an
ever more interdependent world where political, economic, social, and cultural relationships are
not restricted to territorial boundaries or to state actors, globalization has much do with its impact
on cultures. As goods and finance crisscross across the globe, globalization shifts the cultural
makeup of the globe and creates a homogenized global culture. Although not a new
phenomenon, the process of globalization has truly made the world a smaller place in which
political, social, and economic events elsewhere affect individuals anywhere. As a result,
individuals search for constant time and space-bounded identities in a world ever changing by
the day. One such identity is religion. Generally, religion is a system of beliefs and practices.
More specifically, the word comes from the Latin religare which means to bind together again
that which was once bound but has since been torn apart or broken. Indeed, with the
globalization of economics and politics, individuals feel insecure as the life they once led is
being contested and changed at the same time. Hence, in order for a person to maintain a sense of
psychological well-being and avoid existential anxiety, individuals turn to scripture stories and
teachings that provide a vision about how they can be bound to a meaningful world, a world that
is quickly changing day-by-day.

3. In your own words, explain how globalization has contributed to the proliferation of
religions across the globe. (10 points)
Answer: Religion and globalization have always shared a relation of struggle and conflict.
Globalization has generally been linked with economic and political interdependence which
ultimately has brought people closer and effect of no event is isolated but is felt in far-off places
too. It has shifted the cultural build-up of the world and led to formation of a global culture- a
common minimum which is accepted by all. Globalization stands for increased and daily contact
while religions are becoming more self-conscious for themselves as being the world religions.
The basic tenets of globalization stand against religious parochialism. By diminishing the
barriers between different cultures, globalization lands religion in a quagmire of conflicts which
reinforce social identities as some do not accept the new realities and turn to religion to
rediscover their own identity. Religion provides a sense of belongingness to a group in the world.
Religion has stood the complexities and onslaught of the modern world and is seen to be further
intensified under the conditions of contemporary development. Although some groups have
made religion as a weapon to both integrate and terrorize masses, generally people have become
more tolerant of other religious beliefs and practices and have come to associate all acts of terror
as anti-religious. In third world nations, where the vulnerable sections find themselves more
marginalized by the forces of globalization, religion takes a prime welfare role and acts as a
cultural protector for these sections. Religion thus plays a social role by helping in social causes
and successfully gets greater recognition. Here it presents a direct challenge to globalization.
India is home to a massive rural population to whom the benefits of globalization will take time
to reach. In this fast pace life, religion acts as ‘home’ for personal peace and gives a message of
peace in times of crisis. Urbanization has attracted many rural youth and continues to bring them
to cities for better life. Religion can use the new possibilities presented by the global forces to
reach to more people and also rediscover the essence of other religions. All religions have fixed
texts but none has fixed beliefs. Religions can come together and stand for increased peace in the
world with mutual tolerance and respect.