This chapter examines the institutional and personal implications of globalized religion, and the relation of these to democracy. Topics covered include the institutional and cognitive implications of religious pluralism; and the “voluntary imperative” concept, which imposes itself whenever religious pluralism predominates. The chapter argues that the relation between pluralism and democracy is complex. One cannot simply say that pluralism is either good or bad for democracy. It will be either, depending on the response to it by both religious and political institutions.
Keywords: globalized religion, institutionalism, religious pluralism, democracy, voluntary imperative