Fundamentalism

Question 1

When was the rise of various fundamentalists groups?

Answer 1

the early 21st century

Question 2

2 examples of fundamentalist groups

Answer 2

• The new religious rights in the US
• Islamic fundamentalism in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan

Question 3

Who identified and distinguished the 2 types of fundamentalists?

Answer 3

Steve Bruce

Question 4

what did Steve Bruce state were the two types of fundamentalists?

Answer 4

• communal individualism
• individualist fundamentalism

Question 5

communal individualism

Answer 5

• found in less developed countries
• defends communities and nations against ‘modernist’ threats

Question 6

Individualist fundamentalism

Answer 6

• found in more developed countries
• mainly associated with the new christian rights in the US

Question 7

Chapman et al. (2015)

Answer 7

Identified the key features of fundamentalism

Question 8

What does Chapaman et al.(2015) say are the key features of fundamentalism?

Answer 8

• literal interpretations of religious texts which they see as ‘infallible’
• regard all aspects of social life as sacred (police peoples behavior closely)
• do not tolerate other religions
• have conservative beliefs
• Look at past religion eras with nostalgia

Question 9

infallible meaning

Answer 9

can’t question their religious texts, moral codes of how to live

Question 10

conservative beliefs

Answer 10

support traditional ideas and against any progressive ideas

Question 11

Steve Bruce

Answer 11

Primarily sees the rise of fundamentalism as a reaction to modernization and secularization

Question 12

Steve Bruce example

Answer 12

• due to rationalization, people are more likely to seek scientific explanations for their behavior
• Therefore, ‘religious traditionalists feel as if their way of life is under threat, so they take steps to defend their traditions

Question 13

Steve bruce’s reasons making fundamentalism more likely to emerge

Answer 13

• Set beliefs e.g belief in one God, tends to be stronger in Christianity and Islam
• common enemy to unite against e.g Islam and USA
• Religions which allow more freedom to claim their own interpretations of their religion
• marginalized individuals

Question 14

Growth of christian fundamentalism + example

Answer 14

The relaxation of what Christianity defines as ‘immoral’ such as divorce laws, abortion, gay rights has caused powerful groups such as the new religious movement right in the USA. This has lead to things such as bombing abortion clinics

Question 15

Growth of Islamic fundamentalism + example

Answer 15

Postmodern, western values are seen as corrupt and go against traditional Islamic values and beliefs. This has led to the strong charismatic leaders promoting their views. an example of this is the London bombing in 2005

Question 16

Karen armstrong

Answer 16

• sees economic and political factors as the main reasons for increasing tensions between Islamic and western societies
• points out how in the late 19th and early 20th century, Muslims looked up to the modernization of western societies and wanted to become more like Britain and France
• This was because they were more Islamic than Islamic countries