...------------------------------------------------- Religion in a Global Context For secularisation theory, modernisation undermines religion. The importance of science and technology in economic development, and the rational worldview on which they depend, are seen as destroying belief in the supernatural. On the other hand, religion may contribute to development, as Weber argued in the case of the protestant ethic (AO2 – Gordon Marshall and Peter Berger). More recently, sociologists have examined what role religion may play in development in today’s globalising world. Religion and Development Meera Nanda - God and Globalisation in India Globalisation has brought rising prosperity to India’s new middle class. Nanda’s book ‘God and Globalisation’ examines the role of Hinduism, the religion of 85% of the population, in legitimating both the rise of a new Hindu ‘ultra-nationalism’ and the prosperity of the Indian middle class. Hindusim and Consumerism Globalisation has created a huge and prosperous, scientifically educated, urban middle class in India, working in IT, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors closely tied into the global economy. According to Inglehart and Norris, these are precisely the people whom secularisation theory predicts will be the first to abandon religion in favour of a Secular View (AO2). Yet as Nanda Observes, a vast majority of this class continue to believe in the supernatural. A survey by the ‘Centre for the Study of developing Societies...
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...approach to healing and how they explore their medical resources. In addition, there is Kenya, which is experiencing a reform in their identity in relation to the dominant medical system. The renown, foremost, and accepted choice for medicine and any form of healing in the United States of America is biomedicine, or commonly known as western medicine. The author, Hans A. Baer, makes this clear from the very beginning of the review article Medical Pluralism in the United States: A review. Baer highlights other means of medicine, and their rejection by the much larger and influential state regulated system. Included in the pool of medical systems discarded as quackery are “…particularly religious one (such as Christian Science, Pentecostalism, neo-Pentecostalism or the charismatic movement, and theosophy) in their efforts to deal with physical ailments per se and also existential crises (Baer 1995).” This means that any medical system that isn’t biomedical is essentially seen as a ploy to rip off those seeking alternative medical means for healing ailments. Scholar James Harvey Young defines quackery as “improper medical practice-knowingly twisted for profit (Baer 1995).” Second to...
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...Most all of these religions share eight elements. These include a belief system, community, central myths, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expression and sacredness. These various religions all have special traditions that honor the sacred to which its followers believe. Although, there are key critical issues in the study of religion, there are also many benefits. Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam are three examples of religion types that are practiced throughout the world. However, there are also different varieties of these religions practiced. In Christianity, the Orthodox churches of Greece, Russia, Romania and elsewhere are closely related to each other, but are rather different from western Catholicism. There are also numerous forms of Protestant Christianity such as Methodism, Baptist, and Pentecostalism. Different types of Buddhism include Theravada Buddhism which is practiced in Sri Lanka and in South East Asia. Mahayana, Tibetan, and Shingon are other examples of Buddhism. The most prominent division in the Islam religion is between the Sunnites and Shi’ites. The first of the eight elements that these religions share is their belief system. They have a common belief or worldview of the universe and what place the human being’s have in it. Community means that this belief is shared and practiced by all its members or group. Central Myths are stories that express the beliefs of the community and are retold and often reenacted. An example...
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...1.) Tokunboh Adeyemo - Nigeria evangelical theologian Tokunboh Adeyemo was born into a royal Muslim family in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in western Nigeria on October 1, 1944. Adeyemo was an African Christian statesman of high repute: He was a very brilliant, level-headed and one of the true African-Christian leaders with exemplary virtues. Tokunboh Adeyemo died on March 17, 2010 due to cancer. His working verse through life was Zechariah 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." Publication. Author: Adeyemo, T. Book title: Is Africa cursed?: A vision for the radical transformation of an ailing continent. Place of publication: Nairobi, Kenya: Publisher: WordAlive Publishers. Year of publication: 2009 2.) Manasseh Kwame Dakwa Bediako – Ghanaian theologian Manasseh Kwame Dakwa Bediako was born on 7 July 1945 in Ghana. He was the son of a police inspector and the grandson of a Presbyterian catechist and evangelist. Kwame Bediako was an outstanding African theologian of his generation. He was an ardent promoter of Bible translation into African languages. He was a man of towering intellect, but he didn’t use it to crush others, but to build them up and encourage them. After a serious illness he died on 10 June 2008. Publication. Author: Bedieko, K. Book Title: Theology and identity: The impact of culture upon Christian thought in the second century and in modern Africa. Publisher: Oxford: Regnum Books. Year of publication: (1992). 3.) Bosch,...
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...all seven sections. This is an open book exam. It is not an open internet exam. I will check for copied information from the internet. Use of the internet (aka copied or paraphrased) will result in a grade of zero for the entire exam. Locked Document: This is a locked document. Please do not unlock and modify any portion of this document. Use only the gray areas to provide your answers. I. True/False: 2 points each (10) Click on the gray box and highlight correct answer to indicate each statement as either true or false. 1. Buddhists worship the statue of the Buddha 2. Hinduism is the only religion that believes in reincarnation 3. Abraham is important in all of the Monotheistic traditions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) 4. Hinduism developed in response to Buddhism 5. Judaism and Christianity both revere the Pentateuch, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim II. Matching: 2 points each (20) Click on the gray box and select the religion which BEST matches with the term listed. It is possible that the same religion may be used as more than one answer or that some religions may not be used as all. 6. Rebirth 7. Chakras 8. Reincarnation 9. Essenes 10. Pilgrimage 11. Cross 12. Circle 13. Four Sights 14. Kitab-i-Iqan 15. Mitzvot III. Multiple Choice: 3 points each (30) Click on the gray box to reveal your options. Highlight the best answer for each statement 16. The body of Jewish Scripture is called:...
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...Beliefs in society: • Different theories of ideology, science and religion, including both Christian and non-Christian religious traditions. • The relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability. • Religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious and spiritual belief and practice. • The relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual organisations and movements, beliefs and practices. • The significance of religion and religiosity in the contemporary world, including the nature and extent of secularisation in a global context. 1. Religion serves to restore faith and the set basic guidelines for living that people should adhere to; an example of this is the Ten Commandments. 2. It can help to restore faith and a sense of individuality. 3. Maintains a sense of unity and creates hope with the promise of heaven. Explaining belief systems: Belief systems: are broadly defined as the framework of ideas through which an individual makes sense of the world. Ideology: originally a Marxist idea meaning a set of beliefs that serve the interests of a dominant group by justifying their privileged positions. The term usually implies that the beliefs are false or only partially true. Theories of ideology Ideology can be defined in a variety of ways - As a set of political beliefs - As the ideas and beliefs of a particular...
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...had noted sects tended to draw members from the poor and the oppressed. Similarly, Max Weber argues sects arise in groups who are marginal in society. Such groups feel they’re disprivileged. They don’t believing they’re receiving their economic rewards or social status. Weber argues that sects offer a solution to this problem by offering members a theodicy of disprivilege – a religious explanation and justification for their suffering and disadvantage. This can explain their misfortune as a test of faith, for example while holding out the promise of rewards in the future for keeping the faith. Historically many sects as well as millenarian movements have recruited from the marginalised poor. For example in the 20th century the Nation of Islam recruited among disadvantaged oppressed blacks in the USA. However since the 1960s the sect world rejecting new religious movement the Moonies have recruited from more affluent groups of young, well-educated middle class whites. However Wallis argues this doesn’t contradict Weber’s view as many of the individuals were already marginal in society. Despite their middle class background most were hippies, drug users and drop outs. Relative deprivation refers to the subjective sense of being deprived. This is where someone who in reality is privileged feels...
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...Chapter 12: The African Diaspora in the Caribbean and Europe from Pre-emancipation to the Present Day by Roswith Gerloff Caribbean history of Christianity can be divided, with overlaps, into four main periods: the rather monolithic form of Spanish Catholicism from 1492, and of the Church of England from 1620; the arrival of the Evangelicals or nonconformist missionaries, Moravians, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians from the mid-eighteenth century; consolidation and growth of various European denominations in the region in uneasy tension with the proliferation of independent black Christian groups and African religions in the post-emancipation era from 1833; the contest for political, economic and religious independence after 1870, including the shift from British Imperial intervention and influence to those from North America, and national independence after 1962. Contemporary studies in anthropology and sociology of religion speak of 'religions on the move', or the process of transmigration and transculturation, as it refers to dynamic, reciprocal, transitory and multidimensional creations in shaping a 'poly-contextual world'. This implies that religions have to be regarded as cultural and spiritual phenomena whose 'taken-for granted' essence1 has resulted from transcultural and transnational processes of mutual 1 Klaus Hock, University of Rostock, abstract for an essay on the African Christian Diaspora in Europe, January...
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...Australia post 1945 - Key terminology – * Assimilation Policy – official government policy which aims to integrate minority groups into the dominant culture group. This results in a loss of culture, tradition and languages. * Balance rites – Aboriginal rituals that aim to make a supernatural connection with ancestral beings from the dreaming * Crown land – Public land owned by the commonwealth of Australia and managed by Australian government * Dispossession – The forced removal of aboriginal people from their native land. * Dreaming – Aboriginal spiritual beliefs about creation and existence. The dreaming establishes the rules governing relationships between people, land and all things for Aboriginal people. It links together the past, present and future. * Freehold title – Absolute and permanent ownership of the land. * Half-castes – An offensive term referring to a person of mixed decent or ethnicity. * Land rites – Property rights pertaining to land. * Meta-temporal – the trinity of the past, present and future. * Native title – Form of land title, which recognises aboriginal people as rightful owners of their traditional land. * Protection policy – official government policy stating in the late 19th century. Removed aboriginal people from unsuitable environments and placed them under the protection of the state. * Sacred sites – Places of spiritual significance to Aboriginal people as they are connected with ancestor beings...
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...MODEL ESSAY ANSWER “Assess the view that New Religious Movements are mainly for the middle classes and the young.” [33 marks] Introduction New Religious Movements are often viewed as non-traditional organisations, such as sects and cults. Sociologists believe that there are differences within such groups and thus, they could help to explain why certain social groups might find them appealing. Traditional organisations are often referred to as churches and denominations. They also might appeal to certain groups more than others. Arguably, the middle classes find NRMS more appealing because according to Wallis the affluent middle class are more likely to suffer from relative deprivation. Despite their wealth and having all the material comforts of life, they feel a spiritual void. So, a cult – which, according to Stark & Bainbridge offer compensation by offering people the things they lack; might appeal to those who materially have everything but spiritually lack fulfilment. Also, most cults allow members to lead conventional lifestyles – a factor appealing to the middle classes who might need to retain this sort of life in order to keep on making money. However, Troelstch believes that the M/C actually find the more conventional church more appealing. This is because the church is very well-established in society and perceived as hierarchical and formal. Belonging to a church therefore serves to reinforce their status in society or their local community. E.G Several...
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...WORLD RELIGIONS – REL 212 World Religions | | | HINDUISM & JAINISMWEEK 2 | | Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe | Hinduism: Brahma: Birth of the universe, Vishnu life of the universe, Shiva: Destruction of the universe.P.87,89Jainism-Universe has no beginning or end has no creator or destroyer. P.124 | Nature of God/Creator | Hinduism: Cycles, Brahman the supreme spirit.Jainism: God is not the creator, no such thing as a heavenly father. Do not believe in Gods and demons. P.124 | View of Human Nature | Hinduism: Karma-Means action and the consequences of action. Every act we make, every thought and every desire we have shapes our future experiences. P.Jainism: Until it frees itself from karma the mundane soul wanders through the universe in an endless cycle of deaths and re-births. P.125 | View of Good & Evil | Hinduism: Good, light, balance, order virtue; Evil: darkness, impurity, imbalance, selfishness.Jainism: Karma: Minute particles that accumulate as we act and think. P.123 | View of Salvation | Hinduism: Moksha-The liberation from the cycle of life and death and become one with God. P101Jainism: | View of After Life | Hinduism: Samsara-Cycle of death and rebirth ends when the soul realizes it’s true nature P.101Jainism: Believe we are born again and again until we free ourselves of samsara. P.133 | Practices and Rituals | Hinduism: Birth, name giving, time of conception, braiding of pregnant mother’s hair, birth, starting education, beginning...
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...SCLY 3: Beliefs in Society Revision Guide 2009-10 Name: Remember: You have to revise everything, because essay questions will focus on more than one area of the specification. The specification: The relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability * Functionalism: conservative force, inhibition of change, collective conscience, Durkheim and totemism, anomie; civil religions * Marxism: religion as ideology, legitimating social inequality, disguising exploitation etc * Weber: religion as a force for social change: theodicies, the Protestant ethic * Neo-Marxism: religion used by those opposing the ruling class, liberation theology * Feminism: religious beliefs supporting patriarchy * Fundamentalist beliefs: rejecting change by reverting to supposed traditional values and practices. Religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious and spiritual belief and practice * Typologies of religious organisations: churches, denominations, sects and cults, with examples of each New Religious Movements and typologies of NRMs eg world rejecting/accommodating/affirming; millenarian beliefs, with examples of each * New Age movements and spirituality, with examples * The relationship of these organisations to religious and spiritual belief and practice. The relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual ...
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...SCLY 3: Beliefs in Society Revision Guide 2009-10 Name: Remember: You have to revise everything, because essay questions will focus on more than one area of the specification. The specification: The relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability * Functionalism: conservative force, inhibition of change, collective conscience, Durkheim and totemism, anomie; civil religions * Marxism: religion as ideology, legitimating social inequality, disguising exploitation etc * Weber: religion as a force for social change: theodicies, the Protestant ethic * Neo-Marxism: religion used by those opposing the ruling class, liberation theology * Feminism: religious beliefs supporting patriarchy * Fundamentalist beliefs: rejecting change by reverting to supposed traditional values and practices. Religious organisations, including cults, sects, denominations, churches and New Age movements, and their relationship to religious and spiritual belief and practice * Typologies of religious organisations: churches, denominations, sects and cults, with examples of each New Religious Movements and typologies of NRMs eg world rejecting/accommodating/affirming; millenarian beliefs, with examples of each * New Age movements and spirituality, with examples * The relationship of these organisations to religious and spiritual belief and practice. The relationship between different social groups and religious/spiritual organisations and movements, beliefs...
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...Mission The General Education curriculum helps build the foundation for understanding historical traditions, contemporary issues, the interdependence of local, urban, national and global communities and the importance of psychological, artistic, religious and scientific inquiry. This program is designed to give the student the opportunity to interact with the multifaceted forces that are continually transforming and reshaping our world. The broad based, interdisciplinary scope of the area requirements is designed to help students acquire the knowledge, perspective, skill and professional acumen that is necessary to become thoughtful and responsible citizens and leaders in an increasingly complex world. The General Education curriculum is focused on fostering urban leadership by developing the cross-curricular emphases of writing effectively, thinking critically, managing information successfully, valuing diversity, practicing social justice, presenting orally and visually and learning to learn. Curricular Emphases: To accomplish these goals the general education curriculum, through its cross-disciplinary approach, provides exposure to a wide variety of disciplines while focusing on developing the essential, broad based, intellectual abilities of problem solving, decision making and leadership with a commitment to lifelong learning. The general education program emphasizes the development of oral and written communication skills; knowledge of the arts...
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...Rastafari This page intentionally left blank Rastafari From Outcasts to Culture Bearers Ennis Barrington Edmonds 2003 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi São Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Copyright © 2003 by Ennis Barrington Edmonds The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds...
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