Globalizing religions : world without end, or the end of religion?

Is religion an anachronism in an intensely globalizing and secular world? Despite commonplace assumptions that the world's religions are anachronistic, examples of the intertwining of religion and globalization abound. A low-budget Islamaphobe film called Innocence of Muslims was recently posted on YouTube, picked up by an opportunistic TV host in Egypt, and set off a US Embassy attack in Cairo. It led to a global controversy with demonstrations in over twenty countries and internet argument around the world. Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt and the Catholic Pope entered the debate. Soon after that, the increasingly frail Vatican leader decided to abdicate because his body was failing him. The subsequent period to replace the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church was attended to by millions around the world, including the 2.5 million who follow his Twitter account.