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The Future of Religion in World Politics Eric Kaufmann Birkbeck College, University of London e.kaufmann@bbk.ac.uk
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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
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Secularization
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Inglehart’s Maslovian theory of secularization Wealth and security lead to postmaterialist secularism
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Secularization as we get richer? Or Secularization is a Western and East Asian phenomenon (World Values Surveys)
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Spiritual Revival Revivals associated with migration and uprooting Seen by secularization theorists as a temporary phase Linked to urbanization and industrialization
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Mass Urbanization Majority of humanity now in cities 2-3 billion will move to cities in 21 st c
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Religion and Nationalism
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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)
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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……
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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
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Other links Houses of worship Clergy Markers and cultural defense
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Cultural Defense theory Non-Christian nations Non-Christian ethnic groups in western nations
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Religious Demography Source: CIA World Fact Book 2008
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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
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