Globalization and Religious Organizations: Rethinking the Relationship Between Church, Culture, and Market

The Impact of International Migration on Home Churches: The Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Church in India

“…Theories of transnationalism discuss the ability of migrants to create change through their remittances; the religious economies model emphasizes the agency of leaders in bringing about changes in religious institutions as a response to competition; the neo‐institutional theory highlights the constraints on leadership that prevent changes; while Spickard () points out how cultural differences can undermine centralized transnational religious organizations. Each perspective focuses on an important dimension, but looking at them together allows us to see the interaction between demand‐driven and supply‐driven factors, the agency of the laity versus the leadership in bringing about or resisting change, and the constraints on organizational development.…”

“…Spickard (), who discusses problems faced by transnational religious organizations based in non‐Western countries, provides a final perspective. He points out that theories of religious organizations have generally focused on “national religious markets” (2004:48), but that organizations that cross national borders face unique organizational challenges.…”

“…Consequently, it predicts that change, if and when it takes place, will be slow and possibly unexpected. Finally, Spickard (:61) emphasizes that “culture matters” for transnational religious organizations. In contrast to theories of religious change, transnational theories focus on how international migration can bring about changes in the resources and demands of the members, which can have an impact on religious institutions.…”

“…The primary motivators of change are consumer led, as described by theories of transnationalism. However, the religious economies and neo‐institutional theories, together with Spickard's (), stress the role of culture in helping us understand why some changes have been implemented while others have not. By bringing these perspectives together we gain a better appreciation of the complex process of religious change triggered by international emigration.…”

“…All of the above developments can be viewed as an outcome of the economic and social changes of Mar Thoma members due to their international migration and is understandable through the lens of transnational theories. Spickard's () discussion of cultural differences is also important since several of the changes that the Mar Thoma church made were in an attempt to bridge the cultural and linguistic gap between its Kerala‐born and foreign‐born members. According to the religious economies theory, when faced with competition, religious leaders make changes to retain their members (Stark and Finke :201).…”