GLOBALIZATION & RELIGIONS

Religion
Systems of beliefs and practices
Religare: Bind again what was broken
Gives a person a sense of psychological
well-being and avoid existential
anxiety,
Globalization & Religion
Overlapping and distinctive ethics with
each other
In general teaches values of human
dignity, equality, freedom, peace, and
solidarity
Globalization engenders greater religious
tolerance in such areas as politics,
economics, and society.
Globalization & Religion
The relationship between globalization
and religion is one with new possibilities
and further challenges.
Faith uses globalization to resist the power
of globalization
Globalization allows for daily contact,
religion enters a circle of conflict in which
beliefs become “more self-conscious of
themselves as being world religions.”
History & Religion
Historical Background
Faiths that large groups of people
shared, provided stability in cities
Faith appealed to many different
people from all social classes and
occupations.
Religious beliefs were more likely to
spread along trade routes, unlike the
earlier village-based religions.
Faiths are not the same but do have
similarities with different answers
and practices to different questions
Except Confucianism, most faiths
promise an afterlife
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are
all monotheistic, with one
omnipotent and omniscient deity.
Hinduism allows for the worship of
numerous powerful gods and
goddesses.
Buddhism and Daoism also accept
the existence of multiple divine
beings in various forms and
incarnations.
All these religions teach that human
relations should be guided by
kindness, selflessness, and decency.
Religions becoming Global
Increasing commercial and cultural
interaction between people across
this large area, religions were shared.
Through faith, Cultural
communication, moral expectation,
and personal trust among people
who were meeting, sharing ideas,
and doing business with one another
far beyond their local neighborhoods.
Religions becoming Global
Historians J.R. and William McNeil
call this the development of
“portable, congregational religions.”
Features of Religions
Existence of a founder
Sacred texts
A way of life
Congregation lead by authority
Path to transformation & salvation
Globalization & Religion
Technology & World Religions
Guttenberg’s publishing of the Bible
changed the way the clergy held over
the interpretation of Christian
scriptures.
The Bible also led to rising literacy
rates.
Technology & World Religions
Lay people learned to read so they
could understand the scriptures for
themselves.
This outbreak of literacy opened
opportunities for a more personalized
approach to religion.
The Internet
Religions are also on the internet in
their own niches and social media
platforms
According to Google, people launch
30,000 searches per month related to
finding church services.
Social Media
Religions make platforms for
congregations
Members can expand their spiritual
lives, share thoughts and insights,
and explore doctrinal concerns.
Religions use it to gather people for
rallies and services
Smartphones
Sacred texts can now be on
smartphones
Sharing of passages are can now also
be done through smartphones
Provides convenience for religious
needs
Apps
Apps for sacred texts and for sacred
lifestyles are developed
Apps are also used to collate and
share religious resources
Cloud Phone Systems
Younger congregants expect local
religious leaders to be responsive to
technology
Unified phone service to multiple
facilities, including churches, schools,
medical facilities, and offices.