Assess the view that the growth of religious fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation The issue of religious fundamentalism has emerged with many associating it with Islamic terrorism. However, as Item a states, fundamentalists are not necessarily violent they may just wish to return the “true path”, the basics of their faith. Some sociologists argue that this is a reaction to globalisation and the uncertain, risk society that people face. However, others argue that changes within a society can also encourage fundamentalism. Giddens argues that fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation.
Abou El Fadl is particularly critical of Wahhabism, a puritanical revision of Islam propagated by the Saudi monarchy. While Wahhabism claims to be the "straight path" of Islam, it is, according to Abou El Fadl, an “false” form of Islam, forged in the 18th-century slaughter of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. To call it "fundamentalist," he asserts, is misleading, since it defys fundamental Islamic truths and distorts Islam by rejecting any attempt to interpret the divine law historically or contextually (11-12). Fadl utilizes Quranic passages as a way to support claims of the danger behind interpreting scriptural passages that were recorded in another period in history without assessing the historical context and background. Fadl further illuminates the dangers of such misunderstanding and an absence of historical understanding and context in which a passage is written through the examination of the passage “fight those among the People of the Book who do not believe in God or the Hereafter, who do not forbid what God and His Prophet have forbidden, and who do not acknowledge the religion of truth- fight them until they pay the poll tax with willing submission and feel themselves subdued” (13).
It would seem that Christians would seek the reintegration of prayer and Bible into the school system while atheists and others would aim in the opposite direction. Interestingly, there are those on either side both for and against it. Senator Sam Ervin, a Christian, believed that the Church and State should operate completely separately, therefor agreeing with the precedent (Campbell, 2003). Many, however, believe the country can see reversal of moral decline with the reinstating of prayer into the school system. Others feel that Engel v. Vitale should be overturned on the basis of the unconstitutionality of the “Separation of Church and State.” Although it is now commonplace in court rulings, in 1878, the Supreme Court cited the letter by Thomas Jefferson where the phrase “Separation of Church and State” is found and stated that it meant Congress was deprived of all legislative power over mere religious opinions (Reynolds v. United States).
As in the case of Christianity it would be necessary to have further passages from the Qur’an on the issue of wealth and merchants to have a more clear understanding on Islam’s origins views. However, from the sources given it is clear that Christianity had a more negative view towards wealth than that of Islam. As time progressed major changes occurred for both Christianity and Islam as seen in Documents 3, 4, 5, and 7. This change can be seen in Reginald’s writing about St. Godric. He speaks that Godric chose the life a peddler, buying items of small price, but than selling these items for a greater price.
Therefore, it can be said that religion can be used as a form of cultural defence against the rapidly increasing West. The use of religion as a cultural defence is very evident in modern times with the rise of Fundamentalism. Those from ethnic minorities opposing Western values so much that they are willing to kill others and themselves to prove this. The clash of civilisations has been evident between Islam and the West for hundreds of years but became known throughout the world after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Fundamentalists are using religion to defend their culture in a negative way and have thus created a stigma for ethnic minorities.
This title of power could be viewed as fearful power. Icon is a religious term, and for Malcolm to be seen as a kind of religious symbol may have been seen as clashing. After Malcolm left Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam, his newly formed group and Muhammad's group were pictured as rivals. The word rival sounds as if Malcolm's role is specifically as the enemy. It creates an image of Malcolm separating from a group with which he has been identified as being powerful and using that power against
The question to examine here is are they really terrorists? Or are they simply the most powerful partisanship in the world today? “...The West presents a threat to Islam; ... loyalty to religion and loyalty to democratic institutions and values are incompatible; and that violence is the only proper response” (mi5.gov.uk). This is the belief system that is instilled in members of Al Qaeda which has stemmed from the global message by such figures as Osama Bin Laden. Amongst the teachings of Osama Bin Laden, former Al Qaeda leader, towards his followers is that the removal of Western influence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Palestinian Territories is crucial for the survival of Islamic faith, and that the destruction of these “infidels” is the only means of maintaining the strength and existence of Islam.
Islam: Muslim in America Yosmaira De Leon Devry University Professor Peter Conis Does being different makes me less? Would I suffer for being born into a hated religion? What does freedom of religion means? Islam is a world religion that has been widely misunderstood amongst the general population. There are more misconceptions around Islam then there is understanding.
Presently, many court case rulings have opposed to this so-called “religion” as being constitutional, while many have agreed the movement is unconstitutional to teach these theories.# The approach of the intelligent design movement continues, to spark discussion about the origins and development of life and the intelligent design movement forces evolutionists to admit their case based only on provable and observable facts. Today, our popular media often portrays the creation vs. evolution debate as science vs. religion, with creation being religious and evolution being a science. Some schools, public and private, are teaching this particular religious belief in some classrooms and this is believed to violate the Constitution.# Does Intelligent Design (I.D) fit any accepted
For example; making pilgrimages to tombs or special mosques, venerating caves, trees, stones, using votive and sacrificial offerings and praying to saints were all to be banned[ii]. All of these practices were accepted at that time and these were associated with the Islamic religion but the Wahhabs considered these to be unacceptable. The current Western societies and their secular behaviors are even more anathema to the current Wahhabs. They are against secularism, modernity, and the enlightenment. In order to fight the anti-modernism, anti-secularism, they have become extremists and do not fear the use of