The Future of Religion in World Politics Eric Kaufmann Birkbeck College, University of London

Components of change secularization (S) demographic growth of religion (D) spiritual revival (SR) religious nationalism (N) R=D+SR+N-S Secularization more powerful in West, persistence or revival elsewhere

Secularization

Inglehart’s Maslovian theory of secularization Wealth and security lead to postmaterialist secularism

Secularization as we get richer? Or Secularization is a Western and East Asian phenomenon (World Values Surveys)

Spiritual Revival Revivals associated with migration and uprooting Seen by secularization theorists as a temporary phase Linked to urbanization and industrialization

Mass Urbanization Majority of humanity now in cities 2-3 billion will move to cities in 21 st c

Religion and Nationalism

Religion v. Nationalism ‘Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s’ – Matthew 20:21. 'People should give up their pride in nations because this is a coal from the coals of hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah will consider them lower than a lowly dung worm which pushes itself through feces.' (Muhammad's hadith recorded by Abu-Dawood and al-Tirmidhi)

Religion=Nationalism Old Testament: “Be my holy people because I, the LORD, am holy. I have separated you from other people to be my very own.” - Leviticus 20:26 “Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba” – Judges 20:1 Proselytizing faiths: one group is favoured by God to defend the faith or spread the faith ‘Missionary’ nationalism or ethnicity (Holy War: Crusade = Jihad; Holy Warriors: Antemurale = Ghazi) Saudi vs Palestinian vs Iranian vs Turkey……

Nationalist Reinterpretation of religious texts: Hindu Nationalism, c 19 th -20 th c Devotional rituals (i.e. Ganesh Chaturti) become public nationalist expressions of identity Gods (i.e. Kali, Krishna) reinterpreted as Hindu national exemplars of warrior virtue Aryavarta – land of Hindus. Reinterpreted to correspond to contemporary boundaries Tilak – blends Ganesh, Kali, the Bhagavadgita and the medieval Maratha warrior Shivaji

Other links Houses of worship Clergy Markers and cultural defense

Cultural Defense theory Non-Christian nations Non-Christian ethnic groups in western nations

Religious Demography Source: CIA World Fact Book 2008

Conclusion Secularization in the West, and in the most developed parts of Latin America and the Caribbean Religious return in immigration gateway cities Religious nationalism and revival in non-Christian countries Fundamentalism and/or neo-evangelicalism rising inside and outside the West Transnational fundamentalism and religious nationalism/ethnicity may be in tension