Mark Juergensmeyer In The Global Rise Of Religious Nationalism

Religious nationalism is an evolution of the nationalist movement. It is argued religion provides nationalism with justification, and plausibility in order for it to successfully exist within society. The rise of modernity, and the transformation of pre-modern ideas, lead to the acknowledgement that religion is able to become a tool for nationalism. The progression in responses toward both secular nationalism, and religion resulted in an ideological shift, in which it was discerned religious nationalism was able to lead to success. Secular nationalism has been regarded as an ally of the nation-state, that was heavily reliant on the will of the civilian. Although through the societal changes in the reactions toward religion, religious nationalism developed similar objectives, and represented similar ideals. The concept of nationalism is focused on loyalty toward an …show more content…
This argument, from a secular nationalist perspective would state the sovereign is the nation-state, in which all values, and ideals are derived from. When regarding religious nationalism, there becomes two major authority figures - the nation, and the religious order, arguably legitimising the cause, creating a more structured narrative, and providing a higher form of morality to the movement. Religious nationalism occurring with religiously dominated environments is almost inevitable. The prevalence of religiosity within the sociopolitical sphere, and the ways religion has influenced culture creates a society defined by religious principles. In these contexts, the state and religion are deeply connected, and religious nationalism is able to easily thrive. This is one version of religious nationalism