Two 10 markers and a 20 marker on religion in a global context:
TWO WAYS RELIGION AND DEVELOPMENT MAY BE RELATED IN A GLOBAL WORLD (10)
TWO EXAMPLES OF HOW RELIGION CAN BE USED AS A FORM OF CULTURAL DEFENCE (10)
EVALUATE THE VIEW THAT FUNDAMENTALISM IS A RESPONSE TO MODERN SOCIETY (20)
Outline and explain two ways religion and development may be related in a global world
(10 marks)
Globalisation has brought about rapid economic growth and seen India become a more
important player on the world political stage . It has also brought about rising prosperity to
the middle class in India and Nanda examines how Hinduism played a role in legitimating
the economic prosperity of the Indian middle class. A vast majority of this middle class,
despite secularisation theory predicting they would abandon religion, have a belief in the
supernatural. Nanda rejects the idea of existential security being the reason for their
religiosity. Instead she argues the main reason is a result of ambivalence about their
newfound wealth stemming from a tension between traditional Hindu beliefs about
rejection of materialism and the prosperity of the middle class. They turn to the modern
holy men who dispense business friendly versions of Hinduism to relieve their guilt by
teaching consumerism can be ‘spiritually balanced’. Modern versions of Hinduism therefore
can legitimise the position of the middle class and allow them to adjust to a globalised
consumer capital. Eval?
Another way is Pentecostalims in Latin America acts as a functional equivalent to
Weber’s protestant ethic in encouraging the development of capitalism. They
embrace work ethic and have a similar ascetic lifestyle to Calvinists by abstaining from
alcohol for example. Emphasis on personal development causes their members to become
upwardly mobile and prosperous. Berger argues this ethic is necessary to raise a society out
of poverty led by an active minority, therefore in Chile and Southern Brazil there is a
growing prosperous pentecostalism middle class. Also, the success of pentecostalism as a
global religion is due to its ability to incorporate local beliefs and appeal to the poor who
make up the majority of the population. However, Berger notes how for this to happen the
society needs natural resources explaining why pentecostalism in Northern Brazil remains
backwards as they lack resources compared to the south.
Item A
Religion can be used to unite a community against an external threat. Some countries
have used religion in defence of their national identity against both Soviet Communism
and Western culture and capitalism.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two examples of how religion can be used as a
form of cultural defence (10 marks)
One example of how religion can be used as a form of cultural defence against an external
threat is in Poland where it defended against the “soviet communism” rule. From 1945-1989
Poland was under communist rule from outside by the Soviet union. The catholic church was
suppressed however for many Poles it continued to embody Polish national identity. The
church served as a popular rallying point for opposition to the Soviet Union and lent its
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