Topic 5- Religion in a global context

Question 1

What are the characteristics of fundamentalism?

Answer 1

• An ‘us and them’ mentality
• Aggressive reaction
• Use of modern technology
• Patriarchy
• Prophecy
• Conspiracy theories

Question 2

Fundamentalism and modernity

Davie argument

Answer 2

fundamentalism occurs where those who hold traditional orthodox beliefs and values arevthreatened by modernity and feel the need to defend themselves against it. In this sense, ‘fundamentalists are themselves products of modernity, in so far as they are born out of the clash between modernity and traditional cultures’.