The Twenty-first Century Confronts Its Gods

Trenchju

Description

This book penetrates the assumptions of Western technological society and exposes the powers that govern it. The contributors argue that it is a mistake to think that religion and belief have been relegated to the private sphere and are no longer important in the public and political domains. They assert that the twenty-first century has a set of new godsthe powers of globalization, technology, the market, and military mightthat reign alongside those of traditional religions. These are the forces to which the modern era has granted ultimacy. This book looks at how major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism play an important role in politics and society on both the global and local levels. The new gods of technology, globalization, and war are shown to exacerbate the existing cultural divisions and religious strife that mark our time. By understanding the importance of that which is held sacred, whether traditional belief or modern practice not acknowledged as belief, the contributors help us to comprehend our present situation and challenges.

PART ONE: NEW GODS FOR OLD?

Introduction

1. The Origins of Modernity and the Technological Society
David J. Hawkin

2. Religion, Risk, and the Technological Society
Conrad G. Brunk

3. Nature and Community in the Global Market
Rosemary E. Ommer

4. Media Technology and the Future of Religions
Jay Newman

5. The West Against the Rest? A Buddhist Response to The Clash of Civilizations
David R. Loy

PART TWO: GODS OF WAR?

6. Terrorism: Some Theological Reflections
Timothy Gorringe

7. Islam and the Politics of Violence: Defining the Muslim Community
Andrew Rippin

8. Disarming Phineas: Rabbinic Confrontations with Biblical Militancy
Eliezer Segal

9. Hindutva and the Rhetoric of Violence: Interpreting the Past, Designing the Future
Ronald Neufeldt

10. Buddhism and Violence in Modernity
Robert E. Florida

Conclusion: The Ascension of Mars and the Salvation of the Modern World
Michael L. Hadley

List of Contributors

Index

Sujets

• Ethics in religion
• Comparative religion

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791484616
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Twentyfirst Century Confronts Its Gods Globalization, Technology, and War

Edited by David J. Hawkin

T HE T WENTY -F IRST C ENTURY C ONFRONTS I TS G ODS

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The Twenty-First Century Confronts Its Gods

Globalization, Technology, and War

E DITED BY David J. Hawkin

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2004 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Susan Petrie

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

The twenty-first century confronts its gods : globalization, technology, and war / edited by David J. Hawkin. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6181-5 — ISBN 0-7914-6182-3 (pbk.) 1. Globalization—Religious aspects. 2. Technology—religious aspects. 3. War—Religious aspects. I. Title: 21st century confronts its gods.

BL65.G55T86 2004 201’.7—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2003190069

For Harold Coward

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I NTRODUCTION

Contents

PART ONE: NEW GODS FOR OLD?

C HAPTER O NE The Origins of Modernity and the Technological Society DAVID J. HAWKIN

C HAPTER T WO Religion, Risk, and the Technological Society CONRAD G. BRUNK

C HAPTER T HREE Nature and Community in the Global Market ROSEMARY E. OMMER

C HAPTER F OUR Media Technology and the Future of Religions JAY NEWMAN

C HAPTER F IVE The West Against the Rest? A Buddhist Response to The Clash of Civilizations DAVID R. LOY

PART TWO: GODS OF WAR? C HAPTER S IX Terrorism: Some Theological Reflections TIMOTHY GORRINGE

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Contents

C HAPTER S EVEN Islam and the Politics of Violence: Defining the Muslim Community ANDREW RIPPIN

C HAPTER E IGHT Disarming Phineas: Rabbinic Confrontations with Biblical Militancy ELIEZER SEGAL

C HAPTER N INE Hindutva and the Rhetoric of Violence: Interpreting the Past, Designing the Future RONALD NEUFELDT

C HAPTER T EN Buddhism and Violence in Modernity ROBERT E. FLORIDA

C ONCLUSION The Ascension of Mars and the Salvation of the Modern World MICHAEL L. HADLEY

L IST OF C ONTRIBUTORS

I NDEX

129

141

157

173

189

209

213

P ART O NE

New Gods for Old?