Religion Re-Emerging

Abstract

Religion has re-emerged on the worldwide political arena. This should not be written off as a temporary reaction against a necessary process of modernization. An advanced industrial society does not require religion to be separated from politics. The borderline between religion and politics is fluid and constantly contested. Even absolutist regimes in modern societies have sought legitimacy through religion. Today, religion mainly re-emerges voicing a moral protest against political elites who are seen as corrupt and immoral. Such a protest may refer to ethical standards from the past. However, a religious protest does not necessarily try to re-establish the old social structures. The functional logic of secularization can be regarded as an ideology which supports a specific power structure, and which tries to insulate a political elite from a moral critique.

Missionary’s Envision of Children in Late Qing China: Children’s Education and the Construction of Christian Discourse in Child’s Paper

“…The Christian discourses in Child's Paper also reflect the privileges of the West in China in the late Qing Dynasty. An examination that takes account of the political influence is valid and important since "The borderline between religion and politics is fluid" (Riis 1998). In many aspects, the missionary discourses ran in conflict with those of politics.…”

Thou Shalt Forget

“…Another set of emotions pertains to the transcendence of fear. It is well known that such a phenomenon is observable in the context of normative reemergence (Riis, 1998). During certain episodes, when their lives were in danger, various people said they felt a sense of release from the fear of death, or had witnessed others do so in similar situations.…”

Implicit religion som sociologisk fænomen

“…Dette er dels sket i form af udvidelser af religionsbegrebet og dels i form af teoridannelser, der reviderer og relativerer sekulariseringsprocessen (Riis 1998). Med denne udvidelse af perspektivet begynder man at få øje på religiøse aspekter i det sekulariserede samfund.…”

“…Med et konfliktteoretisk perspektiv løses problemet, at det kan vaere vanskeligt at sondre mellem civil religion og saekulaere ideologier som nationalisme eller fascisme eller politiske ideologier med religiøst grundlag, som khomeinismen, BJP, Refah eller de kristeligt-demokratiske partier i Europa (Riis 1998). Det er naerliggende at påpege religiøse paralleller i de absolutte, politiske ideologier.…”