The religions of the vast continent face the challenges of globalization.
An Asia that listens
and will make itself heard
The globalization of the world and the rapid processes of social, economic
and cultural transformation put fundamental questions to the historical beliefs
that have developed in Asia. The basic question can be expressed in these words:
how can we pass on our patrimony of beliefs, values, and expressions of worship
in today's specific contexts, in which age-old traditions coexist de facto with
new cultural forms, determined by the dissemination of technology at all levels,
by spreading urbanization, by the imbalance in the processes of economic
development in various nations, and by the economic and political
interconnection between States and socio-cultural blocs? In the past the way led
most frequently from the West to the East; today I would say a new trend is
crystallizing. It moves from East to West, and this is not only because of
migratory flows, tourism or business. Societies have opened up and many barriers
have been surmounted, whether or not political and religious corporate elites
like it. Actually, I must say that the Great Wall of China was never really
effective as a means of political and military defence but was certainly far
more so in terms of symbolism and identity. Cultural tradition is of course the
mother of all knowledge and often of identity, but today it is harshly tried by
contemporaneity. What synthesis will result from it? It should be said that
this synthesis is acquiring a form, even if we do not always succeed in
perceiving it outright. Therefore, what society will we have? How will religions
be able to respond? There is no doubt that from now on we will not only be
listening to Asia, which implies the attitude to Asia of the non-Asian (one
way), but to an Asia that hears and will make itself heard (two way), and will
also tell us what paths lead to faith.
fuente: h
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