Fundamentalism And Secularisation

Question 1

Who defines fundamentalism

Answer 1

Almond

Question 2

Definition of fundamentalism

Answer 2

Pattern religious militancy by which self-styles true believers attempt to arrest the erosion of religious identity…and create a viable alternative to secular institutions and behaviour

Question 3

Fundamentalist characteristics

Answer 3

Believe set religious beliefs been watered down or under threat
Opposed to decline of belief wish to return to original, fundamental beliefs of own religion
Often return to original text
Us vs Them mentality
Response to general decline influence of religion in the world or secularisation

Question 4

How is fundamentalism source conflict

Answer 4

Causes conflict other groups
Who they see as a threat
Likely cause conflict other followers same religion, who do not share same interpretation

Question 5

How is fundamentalism seen as a response to change

Answer 5

Seeks reverse change already taken place
Conservative in terms of preserving traditional values
Radical terms of seeking social change

Question 6

How is the New Christian Right an example of fundamentalism

Answer 6

Protestant fundamentalist group USA

Radical Christian’s large following of literal interpretation

Question 7

How is Al Qaeda an example of fundamentalism

Answer 7

Muslim group led by Osama Bin Laden, origination Saudi Arabia/Afghanistan
World wide following, responsible terrorist attacks

Question 8

How is Hamas an example of fundamentalism

Answer 8

Palestinian Muslim fundamentalists

Elected to power Gaza strip opposed to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Fought wars with Israel

Question 9

How is the BJP an example of fundamentalism

Answer 9

Hindu fundamentalist group India

Believe India should be run along Hindu religious lines rather than secularisation recognising all religious minorities

Question 10

How does Fundamentalism link with Secularisation

Answer 10

Religion and modernisation in which science and rationality are favoured tend to undermine traditional religious faith

Question 11

When is fundamentalism more likely to develop

Answer 11

Single scared text that can be argued over
Lacks centralised authoritarian control without which is easier alternative interpretations of religion develop
Common enemy
Ready supply potential recruits
Little opportunity express grievances through legitimate politics

Question 12

Example of a fundamentalist common enemy

Answer 12

Muslim fundamentalism = USA and Israel

Question 13

Example of a ready supply of potential recruits fundamentalism

Answer 13

Hamas drew on large numbers impoverished, unemployed young men in Palestine

Question 14

Example of where there was little opportunity express grievances through legitimate politics

Answer 14

Israeli Revolution 1979

Fundamentalism tends to turn more radical

Question 15

Who agrees fundamentalism can be caused by secularisation and modernisation

Answer 15

Almond

Question 16

How else does Almond see Fundamentalism caused

Answer 16

Low levels education, high risks inequality 
Displacement by wars
Economic problems 
Chance events e.g. Poor harvest 
Western imperialism 
Effective leadership

Question 17

What is Western Imperialism

Answer 17

Develop among those opposed US involvements religion

Question 18

Who looks in to Islam and the West

Answer 18

Armstrong

Question 19

What did Armstrong find the cause of Fundamentalism was in Islam and the West

Answer 19

Not Islamic religion, it is attempts to impose modernisation too rapidly without concern for welfare of poor
Built resentments
Led growth Islamic fundamentalism

Question 20

Who researched in to religious market theory

Answer 20

Stark and Bainbridge

Question 21

Why does the Religious Market Theory CRITICISE secularisation

Answer 21

Criticise secularisation for distorted view there was no past golden age of religion and it is not likely everyone will be atheist in the future

Question 22

What is the religious market theory

Answer 22

Competition leads improvement of quality of religious ‘goods’ on offer
More product attractive = more customers
Demand religion increases when there is a choice. America= religion strong as a healthy market grow and decline accordingly Europe = monopoly led to decline

Question 23

Criticism of the religious market theory

Answer 23

Norris and Inglehart:

High levels of religious participation exist in Catholic countries where the Church has a near monopoly e.g Venezuela

Question 24

Why does the Existential Security Theory reject the religious market theory

Answer 24

It only applies to America, fails to consider variations in religiosity between societies

Question 25

What is the Existential Security Theory

Answer 25

Not different degrees religious choice, but different degrees existential security ‘feeling survival secure enough it can be taken for granted’
Meets need security = higher poor countries
Explains for prosperous West more secular

Question 26

Why is Western Europe becoming more secular

Answer 26

Societies relatively equal, and secure, well developed welfare states, reduces insecurity among poor where as USA remain religious

Question 27

What do Gill and Lundergaarde argue about secularisation

Answer 27

More a country spends on welfare, lower level of religious particiaption

Question 28

Evaluation of Existential Security Theory

Answer 28

Norris and Inglehart

Only see religion as a negative response to deprivation, ignore positive reasons people have religious participation