GLOBALIZATION OF

RELIGION
 GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION
can be understood as a process of realignment in this global religious
situation, a process which involves the following three facets:
• First, it implies the inevitable transformation of individual religious
organizations;
• Second, it can be expected that new characteristics will be
produced in the contents of doctrines, rituals, and practices; and
• Third, globalization will be accompanied by changes in the human
beings supporting religions, particularly in their intellectual
perspectives. In the following section, I want to discuss these three
points while considering concrete examples, primarily from Japan,
Asia, and the United States.
WHAT IS SECULARIZATION?

It refers to the historical process in which

religion loses social and cultural significance.
As a result of secularization, the role of religion
in modern societies becomes restricted.
WHAT IS RELIGION?
• A religion is an organized system of beliefs and practices, often
centered on one or more gods.
• A belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as
the creators and maintainers of the universe.
TYPES OF RELIGION
• Monotheistic religion is belief that there is only one God

• Polytheistic religion is belief in multiple Gods

• Animistic or Traditional religion is belief that objects,

places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence .
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
JUDAISM
CRISTIANITY
ISLAM
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
JUDAISM is over 3000 years old and is the oldest of the world's
monotheistic religions.
• Jews believe that there is one God (Yahweh) who not only created
the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and
personal relationship.
• Jews believe in obeying the "10 COMMANDMENTS"
Commandments are like religious laws
• Jews believe God leads them to the "promised land"
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
CRISTIANITY is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of
"JESUS". God sent his only son to earth to save humanity from the
consequences of its sins.
• Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion (The
Resurrection).
• They believe Jesus is the Christ (messiah, savior) and son of God by
his followers (thus called "Christians").
• Christianity teaches that there is only one God in all existence, that
God made the Universe, the Earth and created Adam and Eve.
• But that this one God consists of 3 "persons"-God the father, God the
son, and God the holy spirit.
MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
ISLAM comes from an Arabic root word meaning "peace" and
"submission“.
• The same Arabic root word gives us “As-salamu alaykum"(Peace be
with you), the universal Muslim greeting. Islam began in Arabia and
was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him).
• Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting
to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul, and deed.
 MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
FIVE PILLARS BELIEFS SYSTEM/ LAW CODE
• SHAHADAH "declaration of faith“
"I bear witness that there is no God, but; I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God."
• SALAH "pray 5 times a day facing Mecca"
Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of
mecca while praying.
• ZAKAT " Give a fixed proportion to charity"
Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to those less fortunate, regardless of their
religion.
• SAUM " fast during the month of Ramadan"
Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this time, Muslims reflect on their
behavior and strive to purify their thoughts.
• HAJJ "make a pilgrimage to Mecca"
If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM
HINDUISM
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM is religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha
Gautama. He came to be called "the Buddha“ which means
"awakened one", after he experiences a profound realization of
the nature of life, death, and existence.
TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
“DESIRE”
Hence, extinguish the self, don't obsess about oneself. Give up
all materials and possessions of the World.
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM
Four Noble Truths
1. The Truth of Suffering
2. The truth of the cause of suffering
3. the truth of the end of suffering
4. The truth of the path leading to the End of suffering
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM
Nirvana is a state of perfect peace in which the soul
would be free from suffering forever. It would escape
from the cycle of rebirth.
If nirvana is not achieved, then the soul would be reborn
to live through the cycle of suffering again
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM
To reach Nirvana, one must follow Eightfold Path.
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
HINDUISM is one of the oldest religions of humanity,
founded in 1500 BCE or earlier and evolved over a long
time in India.
What do Hindus believe?
1. Brahman- the eternal being-created and preserves the
world. Everything in the world is an aspect of Brahman.
2. Atman - the soul- each person has one that is an
aspect of Brahman.
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
3. Devas - manifestations of Brahman that are active in
the world and who help to maintain order 3 of the most
commons - brahma, Vishnu, and Siva.
4. Reincarnation - being reborn into this world lifetime
after lifetime (samsara)
5. Karma - the sum effect of a persons' actions, good and
bad, which helps shape future experiences
6. Moksha- goal of human existence, escape from the
cycle of reincarnation to join with the Brahman.
POLYTHEISTIC RELIGIONS
7. Dharma- set of spiritual duties and obligations that
must be fulfilled to achieve moksha.

ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFE

to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming
as one with Brahman(Moksha).
ANIMISTIC OR TRADITIONAL
RELIGIONS

SHINTOISM
TRADITIONAL RELIGION
Shintoism is a belief system which originated in Japan, and is
followed by 104 million people worldwide.
• is a purely national Japanese religion. It was based on
ancestors' traditions and the worship of nature. Shinto
teaches the way of harmonious existence of men in spiritual
unity with the world.
• The word Shinto comes from the written Chinese kanji of
"Shen", meaning "divine spirit", and "Tao", meaning "way”, to
form the meaning of “Way of the Spirits”.
TRADITIONAL RELIGION

Shintoism
Kami, which are spirits that inhabit the natural world.
From landscapes and forces of nature, to people and
animals (both living and dead), all objects are believed to
have kami.
IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGIONS
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 the
effect of no event is isolated but is felt in far-off places
too. Globalization stands for increased and daily contact
while religions are becoming more self-conscious about
themselves as being the world religions.
IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON 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 that
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.
IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGIONS
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 with 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 getting greater
recognition.
IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGIONS
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 a better life. Religion can use the new
possibilities presented by the global forces to reach 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.
 SOURCE CITED
• Inoue N. (15 May 2001). https://www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/global/06inoue2.html
• Pangasinan State University (2019-2020). https://
www.studocu.com/ph/document/pangasinan-state-university/bsed-english/the-globaliz
ation-of-religion/21452404
• “Impacts of Globalization on Religion” (31 October 2016). https://
www.gktoday.in/topic/impacts-of-globalization-on-religion
• Peter Beyer, “Religion and Globalization” (London, United Kingdom: SAGE
Publications, 1994)
THANK YOU