Characteristics of fundamentalism

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Created by: rebeccamellors
Created on: 17-02-17 09:15

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Characteristics of Fundamentalism
- An Authoritative Sacred Text
  - For Christian fundamentalists every word of the bible is literally true
    - Truths are valid for all eternity & contains answers to all life's important questions
    - The text is without error & not open to questioning
  - However, Aldridge (2013) criticises
    - No text speaks for itself; it has to be interpreted so what fundamentalists hold to be true is not the text but their interpretation of its meaning
    - They ignore other interpretations
- An 'us & them' mentality
  - Fundamentalists separate themselves from the rest of the world & refuse to compromise with it
  - Davie (2013) puts it, they seek to establish islands of certainty against what they see as social & cultural chaos
- Aggressive Reaction
  - Fundamentalists movements aim to draw attention to the threat of their beliefs & values
    - Reactions are therefore aggressive & intended to shock, intimidate or cause harm
  - Authoritative leaders who interpret scared texts are important in giving direction to the reactions
- Use of Modern Technology
  - Fundamentalists oppose modern culture as they see it as corrupted by secularism, liberalism, etc
  - However they are keen to use modern technology to achieve their aims
- Patriarchy
  - Hawley (1994) notes fundamentalists favour a world in which control over women's sexuality, reproductive powers & their social & economic roles, is fixed for all time by divine decree
- Prophecy
  - Christian fundamentalists proclaim the relevance of biblical prophecies to contemporary events
    - Believe that the 'last days' will soon be upon us
- Conspiracy Theories
  - Fundamentalists are often attracted to conspiracy theories
  - Idea that powerful, hidden, evil forces & organisations are in control of human destiny