LESSON 11:

CHALLENGES OF
PLURALISM AND
FUNDAMENTALISM
Let’s Warm-up
Engagement Survey Questions for Millennial Generation

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WHAT IS PLURALISM?
 Pluralism is a model of democracy
that encourages various groups to
present their ideas and opinions. In
doing so, no one group dictates
how things should work. The
different groups having varied
beliefs coexist while retaining their
distinct identities.
WHAT IS PLURALISM?
 Pluralism is not diversity alone,
but the energetic engagement
with diversity.

 Pluralism is not just tolerance,

but the active seeking of
understanding across lines of
difference.

 Pluralism is not relativism, but

the encounter of commitments.

 Pluralism is based on dialogue.

Features of Pluralism in Politics
 The first characteristic of pluralism is
that power is vested in the people.
 Second, pluralism holds that the
state is always neutral.
 Third, pluralism views everyone as
having access to power with no one
group or individual dominating in the
running of government activities.
 1. Many cities in the United States have areas

Pluralism in Real Life

referred to as Little Italy or Chinatown, where
people from those countries keep their
cultural traditions.
2. JoAnne's parents are from Lebanon, and
though JoAnne has grown up in the United
States, she embraces her Lebanese roots.
She has lived in Lebanon and often cooks
traditional Lebanese meals.
3. Amish people live alongside those who are
not Amish, but travel by horse and buggy, do
not have electricity, and have established
stores, schools, and other organizations that
are used by members of the Amish
community.
4. Native American tribes have separate
governments, religions, schools, and
communities in which they practice and live
out their traditions and histories.
Pluralism in Real Life
5. Born and raised in Mexico, Flor came to the
United States as a teenager. She was eager
to learn English and to adapt to the culture
around her, but she also continued to
celebrate the traditions she grew up with
and passed them on to her children.
6. The United States has been referred to as a
melting pot, where people of different
cultural backgrounds have come to live but
are able to keep alive their own cultural
traditions.
7. Labor unions and employers share in
meeting the needs of employees.
CHALLENGES
OF
PLURALISM
 In the 21st century, we live for the
first time in one global community.
But it is a community composed of
many strands which must be
carefully woven together into a
whole.
 Without the institutions and policies
to manage diversity, whole
communities can feel marginalized
and oppressed, creating conditions
for conflict and violence.
 Therefore, pluralism is a key
challenge for the 21st century..
CHALLENGES
OF
PLURALISM peace and security
Strong, healthy and cohesive
societies are built on three pillars

development

the rule of law and respect

for human rights.
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?
 It is a type of militantly conservative
religious movement characterized by
the advocacy of strict conformity to
sacred texts.
 Marty and Appleby viewed
fundamentalism primarily as the
militant rejection of secular modernity.
They argued that fundamentalism is
not just traditional religiosity but an
inherently political phenomenon,
though this dimension may sometimes
be dormant.
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?
The Fundamentalism Project has
been criticized on a number of
grounds.
 One objection is that many of the
movements that Marty and Appleby
categorize as fundamentalist seem
to be motivated less by the rejection
of modernity than by social, ethnic,
and nationalistic grievances.
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?
 Another criticism of Marty and Appleby’s
approach is that it is inappropriate to use the
term fundamentalism, which originally
referred to a movement in American
Protestantism, to describe movements in
other religions, particularly non-Western
ones.
 This practice has been denounced as a kind
of Eurocentric “conceptual imperialism” an
especially sensitive charge in the Islamic
world, where those designated
fundamentalists are outraged by Western
political, economic, and cultural domination.
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?
 A third objection is that the
significant negative connotations of
the term fundamentalism usually
including bigotry, zealotry, militancy,
extremism, and fanaticism make it
unsuitable as a category of
scholarly analysis.
 Fundamentalist
Interpretations of Religion
 There are multiple fundamentalisms
ranging from how we interpret texts,
make our laws and define our
culture, but there are some
commonalities running through this
family of fundamentalisms.
Pluralistic Interpretations
of Religion
 Hassan Hanafi the Egyptian philosopher throughout his
work argues that there is not, cannot be and has never
been a uniform interpretation of religious scripture. Human
interpretation is essentially a pluralistic endeavor. As Abdol
Karim Soroush points out:
“All understanding assumes suppositions and entails
‘categorization,’ that is subsuming the particular under
universal categories and concepts. Understanding
religion is no exception. It is preceded by certain
assumptions and principles which are necessary
conditions for its intelligibility and interpretation.”
 The basic premise of the theory is that religion is divine
and perfect, but religious knowledge is by no means
perfect or divine, the interpreter is always fallible, and
interpretation by its nature due to human fallibility always
pluralistic.
Globalization and
Pluralism
 In our ever-changing world, pluralism are political
responses to different historical challenges that they
shape history that build bridges than Fundamentalism
that create walls.
 Policies geared religious pluralism center on religious
toleration, rights for denominations, or individual religious
freedom. They believed that even if they subscribe to
religious beliefs, they belong to One Faith and are
unified by the philosophy of being one.
 Globalization since we are now in the Digital Age, play a
major role in achieving common understanding that
Ecumenical Services accepted people of “alien” religions
to be at one thanks to the internet. With the continuing
development in telecommunications that will prove
brighter in the years to come, will lead to peaceful co-
existence and even to ideological convergence.
 Ethical Challenges of
Millennials and Filinnials
What is the millennial generation?
 The millennial generation, also called Generation Y,
refers to the population of people who were born roughly
between the early 1980s and 1990s, often being
extended as far as the early 2000s.
 This generation is the most populated in modern history,
and it can be worth noting that it is also the generation to
be born into the technological world and came of age in a
new millennium.  
 This generation has witnessed the arrival of technological
growth and development, and perhaps because of it, can
identify as being more progressive, creative and far
thinking than earlier generations. Many millennials may
also identify as being more concerned with intrinsic and
moral values over extrinsic and material ideologies.
 Ethical Challenges of
Millennials and Fillennials
MILLENNIALS also known as
“Generation Y or the net generation”
• 1970s to early 1920s as starting
birth years and mid-1990s to early
2000s as ending birth years.
• Also labeled as the “boomerang
generation” or “peter pan
generation”
• Generation Y members are very
upbeat and more open to change
than old generations.
 Fillennials is term used to denote
the FILIPINO MILLENNIALS.

 Fillennials generation increased

used and familiarity with
communications, media, and digital
technologies.
Characteristics of the
Millennial Generation
1. Values meaningful motivation
2. Challenges the hierarchy status-quo
3. Places importance on relationships with
superiors
4. Intuitive knowledge of technology
5. Open and adaptive to change
6. Places importance on tasks rather than time
7. Passion for learning
8. Openly receptive to feedback and recognition
9. Free-thinking and creative
10. Values social interactions in the workplace
 THE COMMON
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MILLENNIAL
PROFESSIONALS
1. Millennials are Tech-Savvy
2. Millennials Are Family-Centric
3. Millennials Are Achievement-Oriented
4. Millennials are Team-Oriented
5. Generation Y Craves Attention
6. Generation Y Is Prone to Job-Hopping
MILLENNIALS IN THE
PHILIPPINES: WHO
ARE THEY AND WHAT
DO THEY DO?

 When it comes to entertainment,

millennials in the Philippines are
usually seen spending time online,
watching YouTube videos.
Millennials usually have the latest
apps, watch the latest TV series,
and are into the latest hits.
According to a Philippine Star article,
millennials in the Philippines do not
usually read newspapers. Instead,
they have Google for information or
Waze for road directions.
MILLENNIALS IN THE
PHILIPPINES: WHO
ARE THEY AND WHAT
DO THEY DO?

 Another set of description that best

fits millennials are upbeat, lazy,
narcissistic, materialistic, self-
expressive, fun-loving and liberal.
They also have a short attention
span. But if you talk to them about
the things that interest them (e.g.
tattoos, trivia, gaming, movies and
the likes), they’re really one to talk.
10 Signs That You are
a Typical Filipino
Millennial
1. Genuine happiness is more important for you than
anything else.
2. You’d rather travel than buy material things.
3. You genuinely care about the environment.
4. Romantic relationships are not your priority.
5. #LoveWins stories cheer your heart.
6. You know how to #hustle.
7. Renting a place is better than
8. You love anything and everything local.
9. Anything artisanal, organic or handmade excites
you.
10.You hate it when people bash millennials.
CULTURAL TRENDS CHANGING
HOW FILIPINOS BEHAVE
HOME
The change in the boundaries and sequence of love,
marriage, sex, and family. The rise in the number of single
parents. The trend towards late marriages and smaller
families.
WORK
The desire to migrate and the rise of middle class among
overseas Filipino workers (OFW). The expanding number of
call center workers and their odd working hours to conform
to working time abroad. The vanishing breed known as
house helps. The desire of senior citizens to have second
careers.
CULTURAL TRENDS
CHANGING HOW
FILIPINOS BEHAVE

WOMEN
The increasing role of women in the workforce due
to better education and social equality. The
increasing number of millennial women who do not
know how to cook nor cook as well as their moms.
Women have become more liberal when it comes
to their sexual and relationship behaviors (including
promiscuity).
CULTURAL TRENDS CHANGING
HOW FILIPINOS BEHAVE
COMMUNICATION
The emergence of cheap smartphones. People relying more and more on free texting
via apps such as Line and Messenger. The reemergence of voice calls, thanks to
features from apps like WhatsApp and Viber. The continuing shift of advertising from
traditional to digital. Owning multiple mobile phones. We have become more accepting
of foreign cultures (American music, Korean pop and television shows, Indian yoga,
Chinese feng shui, Japanese anime). The swelling number of netizens and their
reliance on online tools to keep in touch. Opinions are shaped not just by watchdogs,
but also by strangers in social media. The openness to talk to strangers and fellow
customers. The emerging consciousness of people to self-organize and help others in
times of natural disasters.
CULTURAL TRENDS CHANGING
HOW FILIPINOS BEHAVE
TECHNOLOGY
The increasing reliance on tech-based solutions to manage personal life
and work. The rise of omnichannel. More online activists are creating
noise. The rise of virtual reality and augmented reality.
SHOPPING
The increasing influence of online celebrities like bloggers. The middle and
upper class condemning non-environment friendly products and practices.
“Tingi” (small portions), sachets, “lista” (credit) and “four-gives” installment
style of payment will always be popular. Value brands and private labels
are becoming patronized. These include SM Bonus, National Book Store’s
Best Buy, HBC’s personal care products. The openness to try new brands,
including generic drugs or alternative health remedies. The continued
growth of microfinancing options.
CULTURAL TRENDS CHANGING
HOW FILIPINOS BEHAVE

CHANNEL
Relying more on deliveries (for food, medicine, car batteries, LPG, etc).
The increasing preference for smaller store formats. Convenience stores
as go-to for fast food. The growing popularity of multilevel marketing.
LIFESTYLE
The demanding lifestyle of the working class leading to stress and lack of
sleep. The growing consciousness for planning discretionary time. The
desire to buy new gadgets and spend on travel. The frequent visit to
malls as instant escape. The increasing dominance of point-of-purchase
activities (packaging, display, sampling, etc). Expansive food knowledge,
instead of owning expensive cars, as a sign of sophistication. The use of
visual communication like emojis and memes.
 CULTURAL TRENDS CHANGING
HOW FILIPINOS BEHAVE

BUYING PREFERENCES
Shifting priorities—from ownership to access (like car sharing). Knowing
the importance of skin care, not just owning good cosmetics.