CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING MODULE
Second Semester | Academic Year 2024–2025
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
CONW 1013
Prepared by:
CONW 1013 INSTRUCTORS
Reviewed by:
CLAIRE T. GUMARANG, MAEd
Political Science and Social Science Department Head
Recommended by:
HERBERT S. CORPUZ, Ed.D.
Academic Dean
Approved by:
LUISA B. AQUINO, Ed.D.
Vice President for Academics
CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING MODULE
CONW 1013 (The Contemporary World)
Academic Year 2024–2025
Lesson 6: The Globalization of Religion
• Definition of religion
Topic:
• Role of religion as an agent of globalization
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Explain how globalization shape religious practices and beliefs;
2. Illustrate how religion adopt to the massive changes brought about by globalization;
3. Evaluate the relationship between religion and the prevalence of conflicts; and
4. Analyze how religion cements unity and help the global community attain peace.
Introduction:
“No single force can be said to have had a greater impact on propelling globalization forward than
religion, which has always sought to spread its message”
Reza Aslan (2009)
It has been mentioned in the previous modules that
globalization encompasses influences in aspects such as
economy, politics, and culture. Defined as a process, it is
not restricted within territorial borders thus bringing forth
impacts that shape most of our daily activities. In a way, it
revolutionizes our culture which includes much of the things
we have grown accustomed to: language, thoughts,
symbols, customs, traditions, belief and value systems,
laws and religion.
This module focuses on the effects of globalization to various religions and how people cope with the challenges cause
by the massive changes we face today.
Lesson Proper:
WHAT IS RELIGION?
It is a collection of cultural systems, beliefs systems, and
world views that established symbols that relate humanity to
spirituality and to moral values.
Religion epitomizes the definition due to the fact that it can
be spread more efficiently than ever before through the use
of different technological tools.
RELIGION
The belief in and worship of a superhuman
controlling power, especially a personal God or
gods.
Some Christians declare that Christianity "is not a
religion, it is a relationship with Jesus”.
Some Muslims say "Islam is not a religion - it is a
way of life “.
It used to be the case that "most Hindus do not
realize they 'belong' to that religion, for it is a name
given by outsiders.
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling
power, especially a personal God or gods.
A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the
creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually
involving devotional and ritual observances, and often
containing a moral code governing the conduct of human
affairs.
Religion, then, consists of beliefs, actions, and institutions which assume the existence of supernatural entities with
powers of action, or impersonal powers or processes possessed of moral purpose.
Religions are shared collections of transcendental beliefs that have been passed on from believers to converts, that
are held by adherents to be actively meaningful and serious
and either based on (1) formally documented doctrine (organized religion) or (2) established cultural practices (folk
religion).
THE SPREAD OF RELIGION
Pilgrimage and tourism are a major force in the globalization of culture.
Christians often Pilger to holy sites e.g., Jerusalem
Muslims should travel to Mecca to undertake the haji at least once in their life, connecting also to the Islamic
communes around the world
Cultural exchange, missionary activity and pilgrimages are important sectors, which promoted the process of
globalization.
IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON RELIGION
Religion and globalization have always shared a
relation of struggle and conflict. Globalization has
generally been linked with economic and political
interdependence which ultimately has brought people
closer and effect of no event is isolated but is felt in far off
places too.
Globalization has diverse, even paradoxical implication
of religion.
Generally, religion is a "system of beliefs and practices". More specifically, the word comes from the Latin
"religare" which means "to bind together again” that which was once bound but has since been torn apart
or broken. Indeed, with the globalization of economics and politics, individuals feel insecure as the life they
once led is being contested and changed at the same time. Hence, "in order for a person to maintain a
sense of psychological well-being and avoid existential anxiety", individuals turn to scripture stories and
teaching that provide a version about how they can be bound to a "meaningful world", a world that is
quickly changing day by day.
Nonetheless, the relationship between globalization and religion is one with new possibilities and furthering
challenges. On the one hand, while religion takes technology, it is at the same time the source of
globalization's greatest resistance by acting as a haven for those standing in opposition to its power. On
the other hand, because globalization allows for daily contact, religion enters a circle of themselves as
being world religion."
The relationship between religion and globalization is complex, one with new possibilities and furthering
challenges. This essay cannot provide a comprehensive overview of religion and globalization, as the
terrain is to vast. Still does provide several examples to illustrate the complex relationship between the
two.
Theory of Pluralism: The coexistence of different worldviews and value systems in the same society
(Berger, 2013) or brings a culture of pluralism. World’s leading religious traditions—Hinduism,
Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—teach values such as human dignity, equality, freedom,
peace, and solidarity.
2 BROAD STREAMS OF IDEAS CONCERNING SECULARIZATION:
POST-SECULARITY – contemporary phase; religion makes a return to the public sphere from where it was
cast out during the era of modernity. It is also is often used to indicate a renewed interest in religion as a social,
political and cultural force, acknowledging the need for political and social engagement with religious as well as
non-faith-based groups and voices. Yet in many ways, the term remains unclear, and its usage
inconsistent.
- Religious Fundamentalism
- “believing without belonging” by Grace Davie (1994)
- public ‘flagging’ of religious belief that is not matched by religious practice.
SECULARISM- is a multifaceted movement that has caused the onset of secularization in Western
societies.
The principles of secularism which protect and underpin many of the freedoms we enjoy are:
Separation of religious institutions from state institutions and a public sphere where religion
may participate, but not dominate.
Freedom to practice one's faith or belief without harming others, or to change it or not have
one, according to one's own conscience.
Equality so that our religious beliefs or lack of them doesn't put any of us at an advantage
or a disadvantage.
Evaluation: Eurocentric, ignoring non-Western regions
CHALLENGES
The Sociology of Religion must overcome its rampant parochialism (Riesebrodt and Konieczny, 2010)
The major schism that shapes the problem of the relationship between religion and globalization is
not only that between a dominant North and a subordinate South. Of equal importance is the
schism between the West and the East or the rest
3 Major Religions In Asia
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the oldest and largest religions in
Asia with over a billion followers. Over 25% of the
people living in Asia are followers of Hinduism. It is
subdivided into numerous denominations with the key
ones being Shaktism, Smartism, Shaivism, and
Vaishnavism. Hinduism predates all recorded history
and is believed to have begun during the Indus Valley
Civilization era. Hinduism does not have a single
founder. Instead, it is a blend of lineages, practices,
and traditions which have been practiced for centuries. Various significant religions like Sikhism
and Jainism can trace their origin from Hinduism. It is the main religion in Bali (83.5%), Nepal
(81%), and India (80%) with strong minorities in various Asian states like Saudi Arabia, Russia,
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bhutan.
Islam
Islam is the most prominent religion in Asia with
over 1.1 billion followers. It is an Abraham religion
whose followers adhere to the teachings of
Mohammad (God’s last prophet). These teachings
are articulated in the Qur’an. Southeast Asia and
South Asia are home to some of the most
populous Islamic nations like Bangladesh, India,
Pakistan, and Indonesia with each having over a
hundred million Muslims. In central Asia;
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are the two countries
with the largest Muslim population, while the non-
Arab nations of Turkey and Iran have the highest
number of Muslims in Western Asia. Some of the 23 major Muslim countries in Asia include
Lebanon, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and Qatar among others. Bangladesh is 90%
Muslim, Pakistan is 97% Muslim, and Indonesia which has the largest Muslim population is only
87% Muslim.
Buddhism
Buddhism is the third largest group in Asia which is practiced by
about 11.9% of people in Asia. It is the fourth largest religion in
the world with over 520 million followers which are about 7% of
the global population. Siddartha Gautama (also called Buddha) is
the founder of Buddhism. Before the rise of Islamic, it was the
most widely practiced religions in Indonesia, Philippines,
Malaysia, Afghanistan and Central Asia. The largest Buddhism
population resides in South Korea (22.9%), Hong Kong (15%),
Singapore (33%), Vietnam
(10%), Nepal (10.7%), Taiwan (35%), Japan (36.2%), and China
(18.2%). Buddhism is dominant in numerous states including
Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Laos, Tibet, Burma and Bhutan
among other places.
**END OF LESSON 6**
REFERENCES
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Coronacion, Dennis C., et. al., 2018. Convergence: a textbook in contemporary world.
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