Fundamentalisms
In: Constellations: an international journal of critical and democratic theory, Band 5, Heft 1, S. 10-17
ISSN: 1351-0487
An examination of fundamentalisms focuses on their relations to modernity & tradition. Fundamentalism is distinguished by its reference to a text, eg, the Bible or Koran, believed to hold revealed & infallible truths. Differences between fundamentalism & integralism (a religious radicalization typical of Catholicism) are discussed, & the historical evolution of Islamic fundamentalism is described. It is argued that, in spite of an antimodernist ideology, neither Islamic nor Protestant fundamentalism negates modernity. Rather, fundamentalism fights against the idea that there is only one path to modernity. While using modern technology to communicate their message, fundamentalists restrict the individual's freedom of choice & erase the line between religion & politics central to the image of modernity held by Westerners. Fundamentalism is making an effort to come to terms with modernity by synching the world order with what they believe is the original purity of the Scriptures. J. Lindroth