Religious Fundamentalism

Question 1

What is fundamentalism?

Answer 1

Appeals to tradition and often look back to a golden age in the past

Question 2

Key features of fundamentalism:

Answer 2

1. An authoritative sacred text
2. An ‘us and them’ mentality
3. Aggressive reaction
4. Use of modern technology
5. Patriarchy
6. Prophecy
7. Conspiracy theories

Question 3

Fundamentalism and modernity

Answer 3

• Giddens: fundamentalism is a product of globalisation, which undermines traditional norms

Question 4

What is cosmopolitanism?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Castell’s responses to postmodernity: Identity

Answer 5

1. Resistance identity- defensive reaction, leads to fundamentalism
2. Project identity- engaging with social movements such as feminism and environmentalism

Question 6

Why does Beckford criticise Giddens and Castells?

Answer 6

• Ignore hybrid movements of cosmopolitanism and fundamentalism

Question 7

Why does Bruce regard fundamentalism as being confined to monotheistic religions?

Answer 7

• Polytheistic religions lack a sigle all-powerful deity and a single authoritative text
• Fundamentalists can’t cling onto them

Question 8

Two fundamentalists: West and 3rd world

Answer 8

1. In the West:
   - Fundamentalism is most often a reaction to change taking place in society
   - Example: The New Christian Right
2. In the 3rd World:
   - A reaction to changes being thrust upon a society from outside, like the Islamic Revolution in Iran
   - Triggered by modernisation and globalisation

Question 9

Secular fundamentalism:

Answer 9

Davie (2013)

• 2 phases of modernity
  1. 1st phase gave rise to religious fundamentalism
• Happened between Enlightenment until the 1960’s
  2. 2nd phase is giving rise to secular fundamentalism
• Changes caused by globalisation, the environment and the collapse of communism (1989)
• French government: banning the wearing of religious symbols in schools (2004), making it illegal for women to wear the veil (2010), some French right-wing local councils removing alternatives to pork (2015)

Question 10

The ‘clash of civilisations’

Answer 10

• Huntington identifies 7 civilisations

- Religious differences between these civilisations causes conflict

Question 11

Criticisms of Huntington

Answer 11

• Jackson (2006): Huntington’s work is an example of orientalism
• Casanova (2005): Huntington ignores important religious divisions within the ‘civilisations’ he identifies- eg: Sunni and Shi’a Islam