For many, myself included, religion is deeply personal. What makes this type of faith so intimate is its promise for inclusivity and a sense of community. The history of religious faith can be traced back to the sacred texts we read today and the rituals and festivals we celebrate. Yet, this very faith has seemed to challenge its promise of longevity. The rapid decline in religious affiliation that started at the beginning of the last decade has sparked a conversation that addresses a simple question: What changed?
Religious Populism Is Here To Stay: The Indian and American Examples
The word “populism” is often synonymous with dictatorial regimes and authoritarian states. Adolf Hitler used the ideology of populism to carry out various anti-Semitic operations in the early 20th century. Joseph Stalin used his communist foundation and the ideology of populism as a way to justify his purges of and distrust in the bourgeois class. Despite this violent history and regardless of the increased number of democracies in the 21st century, populism has only increased in influence.