mod 10 RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM

What does fundamentalism mean?

A belief or movement advocating a return to foundational religious truth, based strictly on core texts and traditions, opposing liberalism or modernity.

When did the term "fundamentalism" gain popularity?

In 1910, after two businessmen published The Fundamentals promoting biblical inerrancy

According to postmodernists, why does fundamentalism rise? (Reason A)

As a response to secularization and a perceived decline in morality.

According to postmodernists, why does fundamentalism rise? (Reason B)

As a reaction to social changes like family diversity, gender equality, and abortion rights.

According to postmodernists, why does fundamentalism rise? (Reason C)

As a response to globalization, especially Western consumerism and materialism seen as threats to identity and faith.

What is the major characteristics of fundamentalism?

1) Infallible interpretation of religious texts and theology literally and selectively.

2) Aversion towards modern science.

3) Rejection of religious pluralism and intolerance of other religions.

- Monotheism.

4) Patriarchal control is regarded as the norm.

5) Traditional and conservative is favoured at the expense of the modern and liberal which are interpreted as morally corrupt.

6) Probable world hegemony.

1) Infallible interpretation of religious texts and theology literally and selectively.

Fundamentalists believe their religious text is perfect, unquestionable, and must be taken literally. They reject symbolic or metaphorical interpretations.

Why they think this:

- They see their scripture as:

- written by God (or divinely inspired)

- timeless

- complete

- not open to change or reinterpretation

If the text is seen as perfect, modern ideas cannot override it.This becomes the root of other fundamentalist characteristics.

2) Aversion towards modern science.

Fundamentalists don't hate science — they mistrust science when it contradicts their scripture.

Why this happens:

Science changes → scripture does not.

Science is human-made → scripture is seen as divinely given.

Science introduces uncertainty → fundamentalism seeks certainty.

BUT:

Fundamentalists do use science when it helps them — for example:

modern media to spread their message

medical science except where it conflicts morally

technology to organize religious activism

This is why the slide says they are "pragmatically selective."

3) Rejection of religious pluralism and intolerance of other religions.

Fundamentalists believe their religion is the ONLY true religion.

Pluralism means all religions have equal value.Fundamentalism says:

"No — only OUR religion has the truth."

Rejecting pluralism often leads to:

segregation

intolerance

radicalization

conflict or violence

4) Patriarchal control is regarded as the norm.

Fundamentalism often insists men must hold authority, and women must exist in traditional gender roles.

5) Traditional and conservative is favoured at the expense of the modern and liberal which are interpreted as morally corrupt.

Fundamentalists believe the old way is the right way, and modern liberal values are morally corrupt. Fundamentalism emerges when people feel the world is moving too fast, so they try to pull society back to a "pure" past.

6) Probable world hegemony.

Some fundamentalist movements believe their religion should eventually:

dominate society

shape the government

influence global politics

be the supreme religious authority

This does not always mean violence — but it does mean a desire to reshape the world according to their religious truth.

Who founded the Muslim Brotherhood and when?

Hassan al-Banna founded it in Egypt in the late 1920s.

How did the Muslim Brotherhood influence fundamentalism?

It broadened fundamentalism's reach, spreading to Syria, Lebanon, and beyond by the 1930s.

What does Anson Shupe say Islamic fundamentalism promotes?

Anson Shupe (2011) argues that Islamic fundamentalism:

1. promotes a marriage of faith, state, and patriarchy,

- This means:

Religion controls government

Religious laws become state laws

Society is organized under male authority

2. wants a pan-Islam that spreads globally,

- this means:

Muslims in different countries should unite

Islam should influence global politics

Western influence is rejected

3. aims to create an ideal ummah — a unified global Muslim community of like-minded believers.

the global community of Muslims.

They want a world where Muslims are united under one shared religious-political identity.

What are examples of non-Islamic fundamentalist movements?

Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Japanese Shinto, modern Confucian, and other anti-Western fundamentalist movements.

What is the goal of globalized fundamentalism?

The globalization of fundamentalism is seen as a reactionary movement that tries to reverse what it views as the harmful effects of Western (occidental) civilization.

resisting institutional differentiation and promoting nationalist rebirth.

Some groups around the world think Western culture has messed things up (things like individualism, separation of religion and politics, modern lifestyles, etc.).

So these groups want to undo Western influence.

They do this in two ways:

1️⃣ They don't want religion separated from everything else.

They want religion to control government, schools, family life, and laws again.

2️⃣ They want their country to go back to its old traditions.

They promote strong national pride and say people should return to their traditional culture, not Western ideas.

How does fundamentalism attempt to restore authority?

By reclaiming religious authority, repositioning religion at the center, and localizing movements for national and global expansion.

How do fundamentalists treat science?

They selectively use science only when it supports their religious mission; they don't fully reject it.

What is the fundamentalist complaint about modern society?

Institutional differentiation weakens religion's authority over private and public life.

Why do fundamentalists perceive themselves as "underdogs"?

They feel marginalized in a secular world that threatens to erase or ignore them.

Why do some fundamentalists use violence?

To consolidate or regain cultural power and restore what they see as the sacred social order.

Example: How did Ayatollah Khomeini justify violence?

He told his followers that it was honorable to die fighting Western countries AND to die fighting Muslims who didn't support his revolutionary ideas.

Additional examples of fundamentalist violence given by Shupe

The Taliban in Afghanistan; Sikh extremists assassinating India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

What are other "fundamentalisms" not strictly religious?

Fascism, Marxism, Nazism, antisemitism, militant atheism, and political civil-rights movements against religion.

What does Catherine Wallace argue about religious violence?

Catherine Wallace argues:

1. Religious messages always become political — so they affect power, law, and conflict.

2. Silence or blind obedience in religious groups allows harmful ideas to grow.

3. Violence creates more violence, forming a fast, destructive cycle that worsens with modern weapons.

Why do threatened traditions resist globalization?

They fear becoming irrelevant and therefore reassert themselves strongly.

What role has religion played in globalization?

Large world religions (Islam, Christianity) expanded globally and shaped global consciousness.

Religion has been one of the oldest and strongest forces driving globalization because major world religions, especially Christianity and Islam, spread across continents through missions, trade, conquest, migration, and cultural exchange. As these religions expanded, they created large transnational communities that connected people from different regions under shared beliefs, shared practices, and shared identities. This movement of religious ideas and institutions helped shape global consciousness long before modern economic or technological globalization existed. In other words, religion didn't just react to globalization — it actively built the first global networks.

What is the final key takeaway?

globalization and fundamentalism are interconnected; religious emotions can fuel violence or peaceful coexistence.

The key takeaway is that globalization and fundamentalism are interconnected processes that constantly influence each other. As globalization spreads new cultures, values, and identities, some groups feel threatened and respond by turning toward fundamentalism to protect what they see as their traditional or sacred way of life. Because religion contains deep emotional power, these reactions can either lead to peaceful coexistence or be used to justify conflict and violence. Ultimately, globalization can produce fundamentalist backlash, and fundamentalism can reshape how globalization plays out, making them two sides of the same dynamic relationship.

Institutional differentiation

Institutional differentiation means that in modern society, major parts of life become separated into different institutions with their own rules, leaders, and goals — instead of religion controlling everything.

fundamentalists see this as a threat to their religious authority.

Nationalist rebirth

Nationalist rebirth means a movement where people try to revive, restore, or rebuild their traditional national identity because they feel globalization or modern culture is threatening it.

In other words:

"Our nation is losing its original culture — we need to bring it back."