Globalization and Religion: Identity and Power
INAES (Institute for North American and European Studies), University of Tehran
15-16 November 2005
Abstract
Globalization and Religious Rituals
Mehri Bahar
University of Tehran, Department of Communications
Baharan12345@yahoo.comMehri Bahar is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Studies at University of Tehran. She completed a PhD in France. She is interested in Religious Studies. She now teaches Media and Religious studies in University of Tehran, Department of Communications.
The major goal of this paper is to study method of performing religious rituals in Iran and Iraq with respect to the contemporary conditions in the world. This issue is discussed by this question: If Hosseini Ashura ceremonies, which are mostly carried out, by the Shiites of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon have taken any global form in political, social and cultural form. If the answer is positive, what means have been taken in the globalization process of the Hosseini Mourning rituals in those countries?
It seems there are three movements in new conditions that have been effective in transferring the rituals from regional and groups to the international surface with the attention of people. The three movements and incidents are:
1. Globalization of Ashura is affected by media movement, which has been formed in contemporary world. The media of new era are globalized and have found a path in all surfaces and corners of cultures. Media has changed into a tool and place for formation of religious identities and has tried to make religion and religious rituals as commodities. Symbolic affairs, religious and ritual places in this environment and media are broadcasted in a way as if they are changed into majestic megaspectables (religion and media: 177). The rituals of this position take more physical and materialistic form and are presented surprisingly magnificent, large, effective and entertaining. As Roland says, the possibility of interoperation of media in religious and cultural affairs is for the fast industrial progresses because of the media's effectiveness as a tool for transferring and distribution of necessary information (including information of rituals) (Roland, 1983: 59). Nevertheless, media differs in its search for concepts, symbols and joint images among different codes.
2. The second case that makes Ashura global is the thought of Islamic Revolution in Iran. Giving meaning to Ashura rituals, mourning people and emphasize on its ability to collect both tradition and modern communications, by using modern media such as cassette, fax along with oral and verbal communications (as Toffler notes), the Islamic Revolution could have been effective in introducing this ritual as a global ceremony.
3. The third movement which was effective in globalizing this ritual is the American war in Iraq and its presence in Shiite countries. Presence of USA in this region led to the importance of cultures interferences and internal issues of a country such as Iraq with its cultural and religious variation. Coincidence of American forces' presence and Ashura time had interesting consequences. The rituals and all the religious feelings in it were shown in a ritual named Imam Hossein Ritual which in past were mostly limited to the Shiite countries and its center, Kerbela. In that time, the motto of freedom of Iraq and presence of more Iraqis in street rebels and religious rituals (Ashura) to the Shrine gave the ritual another form
4. If the religion and rituals were interpreted as mediation and passiveness, during the war and after that, they changed and were shown to be evolved into an active group and collective feelings based on significant joint concepts among different cultures and religious via same mass media. This sudden movement of Iraqis during rituals and the street rebels on Moharram 2003 and their walking to Imam Hossien Shrine left different potentials and capabilities via mass media and showing the rituals.
5. This paper tries to discuss the process of globalization of religious rituals through mass media and proves it by books, papers, films and reports.