Read the document uploaded; then read the guideline and instructions in order to answer the essay question.

GUIDELINES
We began the second half of the semester with some readings on secularism and secularization. In particular, we read about “the secularization theory” and the perceived intersection between the decline of religion, secular society, and modernity. We will revisit the issue of religion and globalization. It has become almost a cliché for academics and others to write about the “resurgence of religion” in the late 20th century and early 21st century. A few decades ago many of these same authors were writing about the decline of religion in the face of modernization, arguing that religion was declining as a historical force in the world and not a significant issue in global politics. Based on the reading and thinking, in your opinion are these authors right this time, or were they right back then?

INSTRUCTIONS
Using two real-world examples from course readings, answer the following question:

Is there a “resurgence of religion” in the world as some now argue, or is the current focus on religion and global politics simply a temporary reaction to 9/11 and subsequent events? In other words, do the arguments that there is a global resurgence of religion reflect actual trends in the world or is this so-called “resurgence” simply a bump along the road to the secularized world forecast by secularization theorists several decades ago?