Free Essay: Globalization and God

Globalization majorly influences the contemporary society, and God is seen as the mind behind the entire idea of globalization by a number of people and societies in the world. Among all the other powers that have helped to steer globalization in the world, God takes the foremost position; and on many occasions; globalization is significantly used in spreading the renowned world religions. As globalization continues to be embedded in the world today, the high regard for God is not discarded, and some religions have continued to take advantage of globalization to spread their religions to different parts of the world. According to Friedman, globalization is imperative, and countries were fighting hard to gain economic strength through this phenomenon.

Religion has always been a part of people’s culture, and his main view was that countries had to be careful to avoid adopting everything at the expense of their own culture. To some extent, Friedman saw some religious beliefs as an obstacle to globalization across the world. While advocating for globalization, Friedman encourages people and societies to make sure that glocalization was observed and preserved (Thomas 468). He realized that as globalization took place, people could easily become aware and start practicing the religious beliefs of other people and societies. Although religion is older than globalization, the author remarked that the former has effectively utilized globalization to spread and strengthen its roots.

Additionally, he was of the idea that globalization could not be divorced from religion because it embraces all the events of the world. Technology as an aspect of globalization is widely utilized in spreading the knowledge and information about God to both Christians and Muslims, as well as believers of other religions. On the other hand, the proponents of technology have been said to be creatures of God and this is the precise reason why Friedman recognized that religion and globalization are inseparable aspects (468).

In some quarters, globalization is viewed as a threat to the religion of the world, and some other people view some religious beliefs as an obstacle to globalization. These views have resulted in many challenges to the earth. Globalization has facilitated free interaction of people from all corners of the world. It has also made the movement of people much easier especially in for those in search of business partners and markets. Criticisms of different religions have resulted in unrest among people from different corners of the world and this has made people view globalization as a test to their mysticism and religion. The truth is that some people ridicule the religions of others, and this has been linked to the aspect of globalization. This has affected both the world markets and economic strength (Thomas 469).

Globalization involves the movement of people, and as they do so they move with their ideas, believes as well as cultural practices. Residents in the areas they move to may not make sense of their religious beliefs, and this can easily cause them to demoralize such religious principles of the immigrants and migrants. This may not be deliberate but come off as an act resulting from the lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the said religions.

Religion cannot be divorced to the culture of the people, who mostly view religion from their cultural perspective. As Muslims migrate to other parts of the world, they should not expect people from their destination countries to uphold the teachings of Islam as laid down and practiced in their countries of origin. When practicing the acts of their faith, they ought to take into consideration the religious practices of such people (Thomas 468- 469).

This not only concerns the Islam religion alone, but is relevant and applicable to all religions. People cannot force their personal religion and beliefs down other people’s throats, and at the same time, globalization cannot be forcefully embedded on any religion whatsoever. People have the free will to make their choices regarding globalization and religion. The proponents of globalization should therefore make sure that as they gain the benefits of globalization, they take into consideration the religious practices of others and in so doing avoid conflicts.

The truth is that globalization has always played an important role in modernizing the world, and this factor has been criticized for secularizing the people and drawing them farther away from their religious beliefs and their perspectives on God. The western countries carry the largest chunk of blame, with regard to this view because they have been actively involved in diluting the views of others concerning God and also because of the fact that these countries have also often set the pace for globalization (Thomas 470). It is also state that these countries do not observe the religious practices of other countries in the market even while enjoying their free market. The free market practice was a created through globalization, and many people blame the entire practice on globalization.

Most of the religions in the world have a coded mode of ethics which is practiced by their followers. Christians, Hindus, and Muslims all have a moral fiber that directs their followers and globalization is also seen as a threat to such values as it has brought about different ways of doing things that are contrary to the practices of such religions and beliefs. This is a situation that the proponents of the religions view as a possible concept that can render religion obsolete.

Ultimately, my opinion on this matter is that globalization is not and has never been a threat to the religions of the world. On the contrary, religion has so far benefited from globalization. Today, Christians can not only travel all over the world to preach the gospel but they have also gained economic strength because of globalization. Christian sermons are now broadcasted all over the world, and even in countries where Christianity is not allowed including in extreme Islamic countries.

All the other religions have furthermore gained in similar ways as Christianity and Islam is not only preached in Mosques, but neither is Christianity restricted to churches. Hindus can also spread their religion through the improved technology and this not just limited to the synagogues hence the bottom-line is that religion and globalization complement each other. Tolerance is imperative for each religion and its followers to realize their goals.

Work Cited

Thomas L. Friedman. The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization. New York: