Emerging Religious Marketplace in Nigeria: A Quest for Interpretation

In contemporary Nigerian society, the evolving trends in Christian religious culture suggest that neoliberal (social) mind-set is influencing certain practices in many Churches. The objective of this paper is to examine how the above-mentioned contemporary culture influences current religious landscape. The sociological concept of commodification was adopted as a way of ‘reading’ this religious context. The research methodology combines theoretical and ethnographic approaches to this study. The research findings show that neoliberal mind-set is influencing how religious commodification shapes the characteristics of Nigerian Christian marketplace

POLYGAMY SEMINARS: BUILDING MASCULINITY VIA LIBIDINAL ECONOMY

This paper discusses polygamy seminars with three critical perspectives: religious commodification, hegemonic masculinity, and libidinal economics. In terms of religious commodification, polygamy seminars as a religious activity held in many places in Indonesia with quite expensive costs are economically beneficial. Regarding Raewyn W. Connell’s masculinity theory, polygamy seminars can be read as activities closely related to masculinity and femininity. The libidinal economic perspective of Jean Francois Lyotard helps see the relationship between religious commodification, desire, and capital in polygamy seminars. This article is an analytical descriptive study with quite extensive empirical data

The Political Law of Commodification of Umrah Travel in Indonesia

Umrah is a very promising market in terms of economy. Umrah is not only used as a means of worship, but as a tourist trip, which is used as a commodity by travel businessmen. The change in the meaning of Umrah by business people has an impact on the shift in meaning in society. Umrah is used as a sign of lifestyle improvement. The Commodification of Umrah is part of the commodification of religion. In running the business of Umrah, religious leaders are often clashed with various forms of problems that lead to legal issues. This research uses a multidisciplinary approach that uses two branches of science in solving problems, this research is classified in cross-field studies, between law and religious sciences. This research focuses on the study of The Political Law of Commodification of Umrah Travel and Aspects in the Implementation of Umrah. The problem of commodification of Umrah can be raised after finding the visible impact during and or after the implementation of the activity. The impact of commodification is divided into two kinds, namely direct and indirect impacts. The dimensions of Umrah activities can be divided into two, namely religious and non-religious dimensions. The religious dimension is a very dominant dimension can be seen in the implementation of Umrah. Religion or worship is the reason for performing Umrah. The non-religious aspect is a secondary aspect but cannot be eliminated in the implementation of Umrah. Non-religious aspects are socio-cultural, economic, and political dimensions. Keywords: commodification, travel, Umrah, legal politics, business DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/108-06 Publication date: April 30th 202

Komodifikasi Agama sebagai Identitas Kesalehan Sosial

The commodification of religion has entered fields that were previously unthinkable. The magnitude of the potential behind the rise of the Islamic spirit is a factor in the spread of religious commodification, although commodification of religion does not oppose existing religious teachings and even tends to support it, but this phenomenon has the potential to erode the values of religiosity and sacredness in religion. Karl Marx has warned that the commodification of religion is like opium, the opium can provide temporary peace but consciously or unconsciously it results in bigger damage. The fields of commodification of religion have various styles and methods, but these various styles and methods bring up to a pattern which is then used as a reference for capitalists to branding their products. In order to explain the phenomenon of this pattern of religious commodification, the researcher uses a normative qualitative method approach based on library research by using secondary data such as previous journal articles, books, proceedings and similar sources as the main data. There are five patterns in the phenomenon of religious commodification. Firstly, branding and services products with Islamic and modern shades. Second, offering facilities that make it easier for Muslims to praying, although by costs that are above standard. Third, limiting activities that are considered un-Islamic as a form of Islamic service. Fourth, displaying Islamic symbols as a sign that the product is an Islamic product. Fifth, framing in the media and promotions that by buying or consuming these products, they are considered obedient to Islamic teachings

Marketing the Miracles: Studies on the Commodification of the Quran, Prayer, and Sadaqa

Religion is a miracle. The history of religion is filled with stories of the miracles of its founder and leaders. Religion does not intend to sell miracles for worldly gain because the purpose of religion is spiritual. Nevertheless, in reality, the miracles offered by religion are often commodified. This study examines the commodification of religion in Indonesia, especially those related to the Quran, sadaqa, and glory. This research uses qualitative methods with Habermas’s hermeneutical approach to uncover the economic motives behind the utterances delivered by certain religious figures. The results showed that certain religious figures had commodified the Quran (as a material element), prayer (as a suprarational element), and sadaqa (as a social element) through the utterances they delivered. This research found that religion, based on ordinary people’s point of view, is nothing more than a solution to their complex problems. These social conditions have given religious elites the opportunity to commodify religion. In addition, the research proposes a theoretical contribution that “the perfect religious commodification” should consist of and offer three elements: material, suprarational, and social benefits. This combination of benefits may be the key to the effectiveness of religious commodification and the continued support of ordinary people

American Daoism: A New Religious Movement in Global Contexts

This thesis explores the phenomenon of American Daoism. It assumes that American Daoism is a New Religious Movement, and argues that it has roots in counterhegemonic religious movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. I will explore these roots and describe how they are counter-hegemonic. Furthermore, I will build upon Elijiah Siegler’s doctoral dissertation, “The Dao of America: The History and Practice of American Daoism,” by using post-modern theories of identity to discuss how American Daoist identity is formed. This thesis argues that American Daoist identity is a combination of Chinese and American cultural objects that form a hybrid religious identity. American Daoism has largely been influenced by globalization and consumer culture. I will argue that there is some degree of commodification in American Daoism. The process of commodification is not negative, rather it facilitates American Daoism’s spread into new markets. I also discuss the negative aspects of commodification in relation to Daoism, and the problems encountered when differentiating between the two

Komodifikasi Upacara Religi Dalam Pemasaran Pariwisata

Development of tourism program is basically done as an effort to support income sources. Policy of tourism is a key factor in its. Facts showed that the policy has not been fully align ed to the local societies. Commodification of religious ceremony is a form of marketing process undertaken to attract tourists. Critical theory approach is used which the implications can be explored through the political economy perspective in the case studies. The results showed that policies of tourism lead to economic political activities in the form of commodification of religious ceremony. Hindu’s communities as an “object” of tourism policy implementation

Tourism to religious sites, case studies from Hungary and England: exploring paradoxical views on tourism, commodification and cost–benefits

The application of systems theory to tourism development has a pedigree that has largely been derived from econometrics and macro–economic theory (Baggio et al., 2010; Franch et al., 2010; Choi and Sirakaya, 2006; Schianetz and Kavanagh, 2007, 2008; Dwyer et al., 2010). This paper identifies opportunities and some barriers to developing sites of religious worship for tourism to maximise income and engage appropriate resources allocation strategies. The authors have investigated tourism development that is sympathetic to sacred purposes at these sites over several years. Religious sites are now acknowledging that homogeneous supply responses may no longer be appropriate. Each special site demands a heterogeneous response of site guardians to changeable demand and careful evaluation of how to maximise income generated from very limited resources. This necessitates improved skills in guardians to build appropriate point of sale products and services that fit with consumption expectations and are congruent with sacred purpose

Issues in Christian Encounters with Yoga: Exploring 3HO/Kundalini Yoga

The paper begins by drawing out current issues that have been raised by critics concerning the contemporary practice of Hindu postural types of yoga in western and specifically western Christian contexts, with some illustrative reference to contemporary movements and schools, especially to Bikram Yoga. These are: cultural misappropriation; commodification; lack of moral pre-requisites; narcissistic attachment to bodily effects; occult influences; and doctrinal differences. The paper then explores specific aspects of the theory and practice of 3HO/Kundalini Yoga (3HO/KY) by Christians in light of these possible issues, showing how this tradition of Kundalini Yoga seems to skirt or side-step most of them, simply by the way that it locates and grounds itself in Sikhism. The substantial concerns for Christians practicing 3H0/KY seem related to issues surrounding doctrinal compatibility and religious syncretism—criticisms that have been raised also by some Sikhs against 3HO/KY itself