Emergent systems, globalization and localization — why religions clash and cultures merge
In my previous post we looked at two ways in which complexity is countered by systems that are growing larger:
1. Simple global rules that everyone has to follow (global rules are assumed by the creators of the rules to be conducive to global good). Individual behavior is bounded by these global rules.
2. Simple local rules determine individual behavior. Global behavior is emergent.
We also looked at how the presence of local perturbations (soldiers breaking step) can prevent large scale global oscillations or extremes (bridge collapsing due to resonance). On the other hand, resonance (everybody in step) can also greatly enhance (make the seemingly impossible possible) functionality — e.g. super-conductivity. The context determines if resonance is useful or harmful.
A religion is nothing but a set of rules. Most religions started of as a set of Local rules that later got crystallized into fixed global rules (global simplicity).
This is the path of resonance, falling into step. Most religions chose this path because of the potential of the greatest impact in the shortest time. The global rules are encapsulated in various religious books (I will not name them).
The flip side of the path of resonance is seen when two such religions come in contact with each other. Since global rules are fixed, both are unyielding. The result is an uncomfortable tense interface. If not equally matched, one will break the other and replace it. Not allowing for local perturbations makes it easy for such religions to reach dangerous extremes. There are sharp edges and smooth interiors.
Cultures have evolved along a different path. There are no preset global rules. Local behavior is flexible and allowed to adapt to change. Global behavior is emergent, and what emerges is culture. Of course, this emergence is a slow process. Local perturbations prevent global resonance.
Since cultures allow local perturbations, when two cultures meet, they naturally merge at the intersections. There are no sharp edges. At the same time, there are no smooth interiors.
Culture is a low pass filter. Religion is a high pass filter.
What happens when a culture and religion meet? It depends on the strength of each. Religion, due to the power of resonance, has a pronounced bias. Man for man, religion will overpower culture in the short term. Strong cultures can either ignore or absorb religions in the long term.
It is interesting to note that of all contemporary major religions, Hinduism is the only one that has no global preset rules. (There are some global guidelines, but no rules). Not surprising, since Hinduism didn’t start off as a religion, it is an emergent global culture and has been classified as a religion purely because the world needed such a classification. And again, no surprise, India has been most successful at absorbing multiple religious practices, without the culture getting subsumed. In India, you have localized versions of Islam and Christianity, and fusions like Sufism. Local perturbations are allowed. Culture prevails over religion. Of course, this realization takes centuries to build.
Clearly there are lessons to be learnt at present. As Hinduism becomes (artificially) more of a religion, clashes have become more frequent. The deep understanding of emergence as the only stable means of evolution of society is in danger of getting lost very quickly.
Globally, today’s technology induced fast globalization has left little time for local perturbations to mature, interfaces to merge and cultures to evolve — the edges stand out in sharp focus. It will take extraordinary cultural strength to resist the invasion of religions. I hope cultures across the world are mature enough and geared up for this challenge.
