Fundamentalism

Question 1

How can Fundamentalism be defined?

Answer 1

A group of people that take literal interpretations of the holy text.

Question 2

Give examples of what Fundamentalist religious beliefs could include

Answer 2

• every word written in a holy text is literally true and isn’t open to interpretation
• miracles are real
• God created the world in 6 days
• women shouldn’t take part in leadership roles

Question 3

What 2 types of Fundamentalism do we look at?

Answer 3

Islamic Fundamentalism
Christianity Fundamentalism

Question 4

How can Fundamentalism be both conservative and dynamic?

Answer 4

• It causes conflicts with other groups who they see as a threat to their religion.
• It preserves traditional values (conservative) but seeks social change (dynamic).
  E.G. the Taliban :
  
  • conservative in their views towards
    women’s rights
  • dynamic in taking over Afghanistan

Question 5

How does Fundamentalism link to Functionalist and Marxist views?

Answer 5

Fundamentalism integrates believers (functionalist) and it may appeal to the disadvantaged and the oppressed (as Marxists claim).

Question 6

Give some examples of Fundamentalism around the world

Answer 6

1. The New Christian Right (a protestant fundamentalist group in the UK)
2. Hamas - a group of Palestinian Muslim Fundamentalists

Question 7

How does Bruce explain the rise of Fundamentalism?

Answer 7

Secularisation.
It is a reaction against the world becoming more secular.

Question 8

What other reasons can be put forward for the growth/causes of Fundamentalism?

Answer 8

• religion has a single sacred text over which followers can argue
• followers have a common enemy
• there is a ready supply of potential recruits e.g. Hamas can draw on the large numbers of impoverished, unemployed young men in Palestine
• low levels of education and high levels of inequality
• chance events such as poor harvest
• the displacement of people by war
• economic problems

Question 9

How does Karen Armstrong explain the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism?

Answer 9

The attempts to impose modernisation too rapidly on Islamic countries without concern for the welfare of the poor has built up resentments within many Islamic populations in the world. This has led to the growth of Islamic Fundamentalism.

Question 10

How can Fundamentalism be used in a secularisation essay?

Answer 10

To criticise secularisation

Question 11

What key features of Fundamentalism have sociologists identified?

Answer 11

• An authoritative sacred text
• An ‘us and them’ mentality (separate themselves from the rest of the world and refuse to compromise)
• Aggressive reaction (aim to draw attention to the threat to their beliefs so their reactions are aggressive to cause shock)
• Use of modern technology (use modern technology to achieve its aims)
• Patriarchy (want to control women’s sexuality, reproductive powers and their social + economic roles)
• Prophecy (CF’s proclaim the relevance of biblical prophecies to contemporary events e.g. the ‘last days’ will soon be upon us)
• Conspiracy theories (they are attracted to the idea that powerful forces and organisations are in control of human destiny)

Answer 12

For Christian Fundamentalists, every word of the Bible is true, the truths are valid for all eternity and contains the answers to all life’s important questions. The text is inerrant. Only those who accept these as historical facts are true Christians. Fundamentalists are intolerant of all other views and refuse to engage in rational argument with them.

Question 13

However, what does Aldridge say?

Answer 13

Aldridge says no text speaks for itself, it has to be interpreted, so what Fundamentalists hold to be true is not the text itself, but their interpretation of it. They interpret the Bible as a set of historical facts and prophecies but ignore other interpretations e.g. poetry, symbolism, metaphor.

Question 14

What does Davie argue?

Answer 14

Fundamentalism is a reaction against rapid social change and modernity - it is when people feel their traditional beliefs and a way of life is being threatened.

The best example of this is the Iranian revolution of 1979, that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy and led to the establishment of an Islamic republic.

Question 15

What does Giddens argue?

Answer 15

Fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation which undermines traditional social norms concerning the nuclear family and issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

The attraction to Fundamentalism and its beliefs is the certainty that it promises in an uncertain world.

Question 16

What is cosmopolitanism?

Answer 16

A way of thinking that embraces modernity and and is in keeping with today’s globalising world.

Question 17

According to Giddens, how is fundamentalism the opposite of cosmopolitanism?

Answer 17

It is tolerant of the views of others and open to new ideas. It requires people to justify their views using rational arguments and evidence rather than sacred texts.

Question 18

What does Bauman argue?

Answer 18

Takes a postmodernist view. In this postmodern world we are faced with too much choice which leads to uncertainty and confusion. One ‘solution’ to this problem is to turn to fundamentalist faiths or sects which offer certainty.

Question 19

What does Bruce mean by ‘two fundamentalisms’

Answer 19

Different fundamentalist groups have different origins.
Some are triggered by changes within their own society, while others are a response to changes being thrust upon a society from the outside.

Question 20

What two fundamentalisms does Bruce talk about?

Answer 20

• In the West
• In the Third World

Question 21

Describe “In the West”

Answer 21

Fundamentalism is a reaction against changes taking place within a society e.g. the New Christian Right are a response to a more liberal American society. They developed opposition to family diversity, abortion etc.

Question 22

Describe “In the third world”

Answer 22

Fundamentalism is usually a reaction ti changes being forced upon a society from outside. E.g. the Islamic Revolution - it was triggered by modernisation and globalisation, in which Western values are imposed by foreign capitalism. Here, Fundamentalism involves resistance to the state’s attempts to sideline it and confine it to the private sphere.