Religion - Fundamentalism

Question 1

almond’s definition of religious fundamentalism

Answer 1

discernible pattern
religious militance
true believers
arrest erosion of religious identity
fortify community
viable alternatives

Question 2

Bruce’s general views on fundamentalism

Answer 2

a response to modernization, seeking society-wide obedience and claiming authority if a sacred text

Question 3

Bruce’s key features of modernization

4

Answer 3

soceitalisation, differentiation, rationalization, egalitarianism

=> undermining religious influence

Question 4

Bruce’s explicit ideas in fundamentalism

Answer 4

feel threatened and unable to reproduce their identity, especially if modernization has been imposed (Shah in Iran)

Question 5

Bruce’s OTHER factors (not secularization)

5

Answer 5

1. Have a single holy text (easy to claim authority)
2. Common external enemy
3. No central interpretative authority (see 1)
4. Potential recruits (alienated demographic)
5. Political affiliation

Question 6

Anson Shupe

Answer 6

1. globalisation > secularization > fundamentalism

2. religion is mariginalized > resentment peaks > seek ‘de differentiation’ to make religion central again

Question 7

Critiques for Bruce

Answer 7

1. reliant on secularization theory

2. too much emphasis on nature of religion as opposed to structural forces (as said by armstrong)

Question 8

Almond, Appleby and Sivan
“Strong religion”
gist

Answer 8

a book with 75 case studies spanning 20 years

fundamentalism in a structural level, contingency and chance, and human choice and leadership.

Question 9

Structural Level of Fundamentalism

7 factors

Answer 9

1. secularization
2. education > rationalization
3. communication > secularization; spreading fund. values
4. weak civil society (less outlet)
5. migration
6. economic problems
7. western imperialism

Question 10

Contigency and Chance in Fundamentalism

1 example

Answer 10

Almond et. al.

illness of the shah in 1979 iran

Question 11

Human Choice and Leadership in Fundamentalism

Types of leaders?

Answer 11

Almond et. al.

1. ideological catalysers = Khomeini, charismatic individuals
2. organizers/ coalition makers = Bob Jones, Baptist, political & bureaucratic skill

Question 12

Almond et al, how does fundamentalism rise?

Answer 12

if structural forces create an opening to mobilize a mass of followers, there is a triggering event, and a charismatic and authoritarian leader rises.

Question 13

Giddens on Fundamentalism

Answer 13

“tradition defended in the traditional way”

worrying because of the fact that ethnic groups, now in close proximity, should be more tolerant if conflict is to be avoided.