fundamentalism

• 21st century has seen a rise in fundamentalist groups:

  new right in America

  Islamic fundamentalism in the middle east
• Steve Bruce:

  communal fundamentalism is found in under developed countries they think they are defending communities against modern threats such as materialism which are seen by communal fundamentalists as secularising forces

  individualist fundamentalism is found in developed countries and is manly associated with the new right and it is concerned with maintaining traditional values
• a literal interpretation of religious texts which are seen as infallible - moral codes are taken straight from sacred texts, little room for flexibility

  however religious texts have been interpreted by someone at some point by whoever is in power - no literal interpretation
• all areas of social life are sacred and they impose their views on others and police people's every day behaviour
• they do not tolerate other religions and have a monopoly on the truth they even persecute other faiths if they get into power
• conservative beliefs: traditional gender roles no sex before marriage etc
• look at past religious eras with nostalgia and want to change society back to how it used to be
• modernisation undermining religion:

  social life is now detached from religious life

  rationalisation means people are more likely to seek scientific explanations

  tradionalists feel as though their way of life is under threat
• single god or single sacred text make fundamentalism more likely
• where there is a common enemy to unite against
• lack of centralised control - catholicism might not have developed fundamentalist groups because it is tightly controlled by pope snd the vatican
• marginalised individuals facing oppression: if fundamentalists emerge saying they can provide a better life they are more likely to get support