'Cult
of Shivaji' example of renewal in religious interest
New
Delhi, June 27: Religious interest is being renewed in many countries, including
India, even though urbanisation was expected to trigger the triumph of rationality
and secular values, says a UN report released Wednesday.
"Revival
of religious adherence in varied forms is one of the more noticeable cultural
transformations accompanying urbanisation," says the 'State of the World
Population 2007' report of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
"The
growth of new religious movements is primarily an urban phenomenon, for example
radical Islam in the Arab region, Pentecostal Christianity in Latin America and
parts of Africa and the cult of Shivaji in parts of India."
The
report, nevertheless, adds that increased urbanisation and slow economic development
and globalisation have helped increase diversity as part of the multiplication
of sub-cultures in cities.
"Rather
than revivals a tradition, the new religious movements can be seen as adaptations
of religion to new circumstances."
A
deeply religious ruler revered especially in Maharashtra, Chatrapati Shivaji was
the founder the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century and introduced guerrilla warfare
in India.
He
is the inspiration for Shiv Sena, a pro-Hindu political party with its base mainly
in Maharashtra.
According
to the UN report, modern-day research has tended to focus on extreme religious
responses that have gained numerous followers and hence are often lumped together
under the rubric of fundamentalism.
"Yet,
religious revivalism has varied forms with different impacts, ranging from detached
new age philosophy to immersion in the political process," it says, adding
this was changing the political dynamics and social identities of today's global
citizens.
"Rapid
urbanisation was expected to mean the triumph of rationality, secular values and
the demystification of the world as well as the relegation of religion to a secondary
role," it says. "Instead there has been a renewal in religious interest
in many countries."
---
IANS
