Globalization is about the world becoming larger (because we are aware of events occurring very far away) at the same time as it is also becoming smaller (because we are influenced by what happens very far away, where, previously, only events close by affected us).

Globalization means a renewed focus on values ​​and religion because of an extensive increase in cultural exchanges worldwide. Subsequently, religious people around the world have to deal with the fact that they can now see that their religion is but one of many. Peter Beyer (b. 1949) thinks that faced with globalization, religions actually have but two options: To isolate themselves or actively engage in the new world order. Some religions emphasize their attachment to a local or national level and are highly critical of everything that is not locally or nationally based. Others see the global world as an opportunity and attempts to reach out worldwide. Both approaches, however, have in common that they are responding to globalization. Whether they like it or not, they need to respond.

Examples of religions and religious groups that reject the global aspect are what may be called 'maximalist religious groups and movements'. Many maximalist movements actively work to change society through political action. They find it impossible to make compromises concerning their religion. Therefore, they try to make religion itself the governing political system of society. Where secularism wants to remove religion from politics, maximalists seek the exact opposite. Hence, maximalism can be seen as a reaction to secularization as well as to globalization.
Maximalism can be found in many religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Common to maximalists is that they do not perceive religion and politics as separate spheres, and that they try to live their entire lives 24/7 according to their religious prescriptions.

RELIGION AND POLITICS

The relation between religion and politics is a matter of heated public and religious debate, and it can be addressed academically from many angles. A sociology of religion’s approach might be to focus on religious identity and the way religion influences the worldview of individuals and groups.
An example of religion in politics is Hindu nationalism in India. Hindu nationalism is the usual term for a broad movement that attempts to unite the multi-religious India into one Hindu nation. The idea behind the movement is that India is uniquely Hindu and that Indian Muslims are therefore a threat to the Hindu nation and culture, the collective identity of India. In their attempt to unite all Hindus, the Hindu nationalists have tried to redefine the meaning of the caste system. The division of the Hindus into castes has always played a part in dividing the Hindus.
The caste system was beneficial to the traditional society, because it made the it easier to manage the country, But in modern individualized India, where the goal is to unite all Hindus, the caste system works against the aim of the Hindu nationalists. Therefore, the caste system is reinterpreted and watered down. This is an example of how religious dogmas can be changed by new political goals

FUNDAMENTALISM, MAXIMALISM, AND MINIMALISM

Fundamentalism is a term that originated in the USA in the early 1900s. Christian groups, who wanted to return to the ”fundamentals” of the religion as these 'fundamentals' could be found i the sacred scriptures. wanted society to be arranged according to a (their own) literal interpretation of the Bible. Conservative family values should be encouraged, and children in school should not be taught evolution as taught by Charles Darwin. Fundamentalist groups are still prevalent in the United States. Today, the term is often used about (radical) Islamist groups and has a disparaging ring to it. When working academically with religion, it makes more sense to use Bruce Lincoln’s (b. 1948) concept of “maximalism” and “minimalism”. 'Maximalist religion within the very same religion' denotes groups and individuals who want religion to determine all spheres of society and be decisive for all actions. Religious minimalists, on the contrary, think that religion is or ought be individual, privatized, to be chosen or opted out by the individual and separated from politics. The important point is that one can find minimalists and maximalists within the very same religion. It is not so that one religion is maximalist and another minimalist.

Didactical comments

The purpose of the tasks is to make the students reflect on how globalization influences religion, and the differences between maximalist and minimalist attitudes toward religion. The video with Obama’s speech on religion and politics (see Task 3, page 3) can also be used in this exercise. The students work two by two. Question nr. 4 can also be a discussion in class.

Link to other modules:
see Introduction to Hinduism Digital Module for in depth-information on Brahmins (sec. 2), the deity Shiva (sec. 6), the caste ideology (sec. 8) and Hindu Fundamentalism (sec. 12)

see also the Digital Module on "Religions and Fundamentalisms"