Religion in Global Civil Society Book

In the increasingly globalized world of the early 21st century, religion has reemerged with a vengeance. It is involved in new movements of nationalism, the clerical leadership of political sects, and acts of terrorism. Religion, however, is not necessarily incompatible with globalization nor antithetical to the values of civil society. In a global culture the shared values of different religious traditions can provide a collective sense of virtuous conduct in public life. The essays in this volume explore the difficulties and possibilities of diverse religious groups occupying the same public space. Religion, the authors show, is not only identified with the culture and politics of the hostile anti-urban village, it is also compatible with the tolerance and respect needed in the global city. Some religious activists have blown things up, but others have tried to smooth things over. Prophetic religious voices call for moderation, justice, and environmental protection. Even the religious opposition to globalization is nuanced. Some violent activists, like Hindu extremists in India, want a new religious state. Others, like Christian militias or al Qaeda, envision a transnational religious entity - a kind of religious globalization to supplant the secular one. Still others call for an alternative to secular globalization that embraces religious values in a multicultural milieu. Religion, these essays demonstrate, plays diverse and sometimes contradictory roles in the new global culture. The contributors to this volume deftly navigate the complex terrain of religion and global society, offering a striking new vision of the future of religion in a changing world.