America isn't the only nation which is supposed to have a secular government but which is also plagued by religious zealots who wish to use the power of the state to promote their religious views. This is also something experienced by India -- though of course the experience isn't exactly the same, which means that it may help illuminate the complex relationships between religion, government, and economics.
In recent years India has been growing in religiosity, especially in the middle classes, and this has left observers scratching their heads trying to figure out why.
Ajita Kamal reviews Meera Nanda's book The God Market: How Globalization Is Making India More Hindu:
In the second section of the book, Nanda explores the alarming increase in religiosity among the middle classes. This is unintuitive, to say the least, but the evidence presented is solid again. Despite the growing affluence and numbers among the middle classes, religion has increased its grip on society in India. Particularly noteworthy is Nanda's assertion that this increased religiosity is more fervent and reactionary than ever before. Nanda borrows a phrase from Neill Macfarland, 'the Rush Hour of the Gods', to describe this growth of religiosity in India in the context of globalization and the resulting economic opportunities and "socio-psychological needs".
Point by point, Nanda builds up her case to show how the new-found religiosity among young urban Indians goes hand in hand with a process of gentrification of the rituals and beliefs, adapting them to the new global economy. There is a new form of Hinduism taking root, one that is as comfortable in the boardroom as it is in the mandir. This section ends with a look at the "new gurus" such as Mata Amritanandamayi, Swami Dayananda, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Swami Ramdev, who have cornered the burgeoning market in techie religiosity.
Source: Nirmukta
To explain how all this is occurring, Nanda uses the term "State-Temple-Corporate Complex" because corporations are using religion, religious leaders are trying to use the state, and the state is trying to use both. Dominant institutions in the state, in religion, and in the private corporate sector are all trying to benefit from or use each other to bolster their own authority over larger parts of the population.
The subject of government involvement in religious affairs is often a cause for contention among the Hindu masses that are led to believe that the government treats Hindus unfairly by targeting them and not the other religions. Nanda's work discredits these arguments. She writes in detail how the current nexus between government and Hindu groups was initiated not by the government, but on the urging of Hindu elites. In essence, not only have Hindus managed to gain from this relationship that they forced onto the state, but they now use this nexus as propaganda claiming that the government unfairly targets Hindus!
Nanda follows the money trail, discrediting the popular arguments that attempt to portray Hindus as victims of government discrimination. The state-temple-corporate complex is in business, and business is booming. The last few pages of this chapter look at the effects of this union on culture- in particular, education and religious tourism. Nanda portrays an alarming increase in government endorsement, both financially and politically, for numerous religious and religion-related beliefs and practices. She draws examples from around the country to portray this increase in religious influence on education, both in unconventional training schools and in the accredited schools, colleges and universities.
Do you think any of this can be applied to American and/or European experiences? To what extent are these descriptions also helpful in understanding the relationships between Christian churches, American corporations, and the American government?
Extremism begets extremism. Why did communism flourish in so many countries during the cold war? Because it was the only ideology (with Soviet aid) that could oppose pro-US/pro-west fascist regimes that were imposed on many small countries. Castro was part of the pro-democracy movement in Cuba until it became clear (through the US arming Batista, helping him to kill Cubans) that democracy wasn’t possible.
The same goes for religious extremism. In recent decades, muslim extremism has been on the rise because of what “christian” governments and a certain jewish government have been doing. Why should it surprise that hinduism is employing the same dogmatic tactics in the face of christian proselytizing and violence by muslims and sikhs within India?
Of course, it may also be a traditionalist backlack against enlightened and modern thinking (”moderinism” is a silly term). The caste system and dowries have both been made illegal though they still continue in the countryside, and women are becoming educated and successful (the majority of the Grameen Bank’s customers are women). Like anywhere else, men don’t like seeing change and want to “return to the good old days” which never were.
.