The dictonary gives the following definition
Fundamental : Serving as a foundation, essential, primary,
important
Fundamentalism: Belief in the literal truth of the Bible, against
evolution etc; adhere to strictly orthodox religions or political
doctrines
Fundamentalist: Person who profess such a belief
Historically Speaking
No one person can be credited with founding Fundamentalism. Nor does any single group comprise the history of the movement.
The term `fundamentalism' has its origin in a series of pamphlets published between 1910 and 1915. Entitled "The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth," these booklets were authored by leading evangelical churchmen and were circulated free of charge among clergymen and seminarians. By and large, fundamentalism was a response to the loss of influence traditional revivalism experienced in America during the early years of the twentieth century.
Theological fundamentalism : theological movement concerned with defending traditional religous doctrine against modern thinking
Political fundamentalism : combination of theological fundamentalism and the personal commitments of religious adherents to combat wordly vices
Where does the problem lie?
The problem is when we try to implement our beliefs/fundamentals on other people or feel threatened by fundamentals of other people. A sense of fear or power struggle ensue and fundamentalism rears its ugly head. Sometimes it is in-your-face. Sometimes subtley given to you in small doses that you don't even realize that you are been swayed or affected.
Now theological and political boundaries seem to have merged and fundamentalism has a new definition.
I got 19,40,000 results on google when I typed Christian fundamentalism. I got 20,50,000 results on google when I typed Islamic fundamentalism. Jewish fundamentalism fetched me 10,30,000 results and Hindu fundamentalism 4,16,000 results.
What's happening now?
Almost everyone knows about Islamic fundametalism (in the world context) and people in India must be aware of Hindu fundametalism. What about Christian fundamentalism? We don't even know about it.
A lot has been said about Islamic and Hindu fundamentalism and I am not going to repeat it again. I would like to bring the attention to a third form of fundamentalism i.e. Christian Fundamentalism.
According to Yoginder Sikand:
“....If Christian fundamentalists are to be believed, America’s invasion of Iraq
and the consequent brutal slaughter of thousands of innocentcivilians in that
country are all part of a grand divine plan that willfinally culminate in the
‘second coming’ of Jesus Christ. Establishing anempire that will extend all over
the globe, Christ will rule like apowerful monarch, saving those who believe in
him and dispatchingnon-believers, all non-Christians and non-conformist
Christians, toeverlasting perdition in hell....”
Question is why do we never come to hear about this? While the Western press is awash with stories, real and exaggerated, about ‘Islamic fundamentalists’, rarely is mention made about Christian fundamentalists. The reason is their vast resources and close links with the current American administration.
Another example of this fundamentalism, and we tend to overlook it, is what the president of US said.
Before the Iraq war, George Bush went on to say: "God told me to strike at al
Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I
did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East."
Just because it is said in such a sophisticated manner, we don't tend to think that it exists. The reason for writing is post are many. Firstly, I want my fellow bloggers and readers to ponder over this. Secondly, I am tired of muslim-bashing because we just don't look beyond it. We don't acknowledge the power struggle between the East and the West.
To conclude, I condemn ALL forms of fundamentalism. Why is it said that extremes are not good and why is it said moderation is better anyday. If we advocate moderation in eating, spending, wordly pleasures, then why not in our religious and political beliefs and thinking. If the man on the street does not spew venom, then we can live peacefully. Because, as someone said, in the end all forms of fundamentalism are self-destructive.
Originially posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 1:42 PM
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