08 Handout 1: Religion in Global Conflict

Group 8
Justine Matalog
Randolf “Ran-dell” Martinez
Alleyn Alexis “Ednis” Orpilla
Vincent Jennel “Jane Rose Amulong” Reyes a.k.a. “hatid-sundo”
Patrick “Jennickah” Panganiban

Introduction:
How does religion affect globalization? Globalization is how people connect to others
around the globe. Religion can either unify or diversify the people in the world.
Jesus Christ is the most influential person in the world. His activities were some
examples of how people work as one. “Jesus was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious
leader. He is the central figure of Christianity, and is widely described as the most influential
person in history. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited
Messiah (the Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament” (Anki, 2023). Jesus: The Most Influential
Person In History | Religions Facts
Globalization has facilitated the spread of religions across borders and continents. As
people move and communicate more easily, they bring their religious beliefs and practices with
them, leading to increased religious diversity in many parts of the world. The spread of global
capitalism has had a significant impact on the practice of religion around the world. Some
scholars argue that capitalism has led to a decline in religious values, while others suggest that it
has fostered a more materialistic and individualistic form of spirituality. Many religions have
adapted to globalization by embracing new technologies and media, such as the internet, social
media, and satellite television, to spread their message and reach new audiences. This has led to
the emergence of new forms of religious expression, such as online communities and virtual
worship services.
It has also led to the spread of religious conflicts and tensions. As people of different
religious traditions encounter each other, they sometimes clash over their differences. This has
led to sectarian violence in many parts of the world, from the Middle East to South Asia to
Africa. Some religious groups have been critical of globalization, seeing it as a threat to
traditional values and cultures. They argue that the global spread of secularism and consumerism
undermines the spiritual and moral foundations of society, leading to a decline in religious faith
and practice.
Others have embraced globalization as an opportunity to spread their religious message
and values to new audiences. They argue that globalization offers the potential for greater
interfaith dialogue and understanding, and that it can help to promote a more peaceful and
harmonious world. Globalization has also led to the emergence of new religious movements and
syncretic practices. As people of different religious backgrounds meet each other, they
sometimes create new hybrid forms of spirituality that blend elements of different traditions.
Finally, globalization has led to a greater awareness of the global dimensions of religious
practice and belief. As people become more connected across national and cultural boundaries,
they are increasingly aware of the diversity of religious traditions around the world, and the ways
in which they are interconnected.

Religion can affect globalization in several ways, including:

1. Cultural exchange: Religion can be a powerful force for cultural exchange between
nations and peoples. When people of different faiths come into contact with each other
through globalization, they may exchange ideas, beliefs, and practices, leading to greater
understanding and respect between cultures. Conflict: Religion can also be a source of
conflict in the process of globalization. When different religious groups clash over their
differences, it can lead to tensions and violence that can impede the spread of
globalization.
2. Identity: Religion can play a key role in shaping individual and collective identities. As
people move and migrate around the world, they may seek to maintain their religious
traditions and identities as a way of connecting with their cultural heritage and
community. Resistance: Some religious groups may resist globalization and its associated
cultural changes, viewing it as a threat to traditional values and customs. This resistance
can take many forms, from protests against globalization to the formation of religiously
based political movements.
3. Global activism: Religion can also play a role in global activism and social justice
movements. Religious groups and individuals may be motivated by their faith to engage
in political and social causes, such as fighting poverty, promoting human rights, or
protecting the environment. Interfaith dialogue: Finally, religion can be a catalyst for
interfaith dialogue and understanding. As people of different faiths meet each other
through globalization, they may seek to engage in dialogue and cooperation in order to
build greater understanding and promote peace.
There are several religions that have had significant impacts on globalization,
including:
1. Christianity: Christianity has played a major role in the history of globalization,
beginning with the spread of the religion throughout the Roman Empire and continuing
through the colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Today, Christianity is the
world's largest religion, with over 2 billion followers, and it continues to shape global
politics and culture.
2. Buddhism: Buddhism has had a significant impact on globalization, beginning with the
spread of the religion throughout Asia and continuing through the modern era, when
Buddhist teachings and practices have gained popularity in the West. Today, Buddhism is
practiced by over 500 million people around the world, and it continues to shape global
culture and spirituality.
3. Hinduism: Hinduism has had a significant impact on globalization, both through the
spread of Indian culture and the migration of Hindus to other parts of the world. Today,
Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, with over 1 billion followers, and it
continues to shape global culture and spirituality.
4. Judaism: Judaism has had a significant impact on globalization, beginning with the
dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the world following the destruction of the
Second Temple in Jerusalem. Today, Judaism is practiced by over 14 million people
around the world, and it continues to shape global culture and politics through its
influence on the State of Israel. Overall, all major religions have had some impact on
globalization, shaping and being shaped by the economic, political, and cultural forces
that have driven the process of global integration.

Revolt Against Global Secularism

 Multiple religious groups, including Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Muslim, revolted against
what they saw as moral failing of the secular state in the 1970s and early 1980s.
 Nonviolent movements, such as the Gandhian movement in India led by Jayaprakash
Narayan in 1974, and the violent revolt led by Ayatollah Khomeini against the Shah of
Iran in 1979, were among the first religious rebellions during this period.
 The Khalistani movement of Sikh separatism gained momentum and unleashed violence
in Punjab, India, throughout the 1980s, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Buddhist
activists also violently resisted attempts by the Sri Lankan government to address Tamil
separatism in the 1970s.
 The gathering power of Muslim extremists in Egypt led to the assassination of President
Mohammad Anwar al Sadat in 1981.
 These religious movements were fueled by an implicit moral critique of secular politics
and a rejection of the cultural and political legacies of European modernity in the Middle
 East and South Asia. Secular authorities often dismissed these movements as attempts to
usurp power and failed to address the moral critique they conveyed.
 Despite initial skepticism, many people in South Asia, Iran, and the Middle East began to
accept certain aspects of these movements' moral critique and viewed the religious
activists as challengers to the political status quo.
 The first stage of the encounter with religious rebellion in the 1970s and early 1980s
marked a shift in the dynamics of politics in the regions affected, with religion emerging
as a powerful mobilizing force and ideological basis of cultural identity and ethical
condemnation.
 The consequences of these religious rebellions continue to shape the socio-political
landscape in the regions affected, highlighting the complex relationship between religion
and politics in the contemporary world.

Internationalization of Religious Rebellion

Internationalization of the conflict: The conflict between religious and secular politics has
evolved to an international level in the 1980s, with the formation of an ad hoc international
coalition of jihadi Muslim radicals during the Afghan war. This development had a significant
impact on global politics for the next two decades.

Invention of Global Enemies

Global War
Religious Dimensions Post-Arab Spring
Symbolic Empowerment
Conclusion:
Religious Resurgence in an Era of Globalization

Definition of Terms:

Sources: