Understanding Fundamentalism

September 15, 2001 8:58 AM

Understanding Fundamentalism An anthropology professor explores the common threads of fundamentalism ranging from Native American revivalism, Christian fundamentalism, the Islamic Movement, Jewish Orthodoxy and Shinto and how they give rise to vigilante groups such as Operation Rescue, American militias, Hamas and Gush Emunim.
posted by kliuless (5 comments total)

A fine piece to read and mull over. Alas, thoswe of us not fundamentalist become so when pushed. Look at the call for blood vengeance because we have been attacked and our way of life threatened. Us against them, as Mr. Bush said--you are with us or you are the enemy.
True believers, as Eric Hoffer noted in his wonderful book, can be created, ie the Germans under Hitler, and they are both religious (belong many of them to a church and non-believers). The State can make them act like religious fundamentalists. I recall WWII songs: Praise the lord and pass the ammunition. Each side has god working for them.
posted by Postroad at 9:09 AM on September 15, 2001

thanks for that,
will read and digest.
posted by asok at 9:12 AM on September 15, 2001

Wow! And right when I was looking for some supporting work to help explain fundamentalist thinking and behavior in American life. Very timely and helpful item for those willing to dig through the information - a trait I find lacking in the ongoing "crisis snapshot" style of television reporting we're being force-fed here in the US. It's a good time to be searching for background info on Afghanistan as well.
posted by salsamander at 10:07 AM on September 15, 2001

From the link:
1. Social change produces cultural tension among members of society.

2. The cultural tension produces an attempt to accommodate, leading to distortion and change in social patterns, causing social disruption.

3. As a response to cultural tension, fundamentalism emerges in the form of an orthodox restatement of cultural patterns. This new that is spread through evangelism, often through the office one or more charismatic figures.

Interesting that this applies both to Bin Ladin's attempt to protect the Muslim world from contemporary Western culture and to Falwell/Robertson's attempt to protect their culture from the same "disruption." When Patrick Buchanan spoke of "culture wars" at the GOP Convention a few years ago, I don't think he ever expected to have someone like Bin Ladin sign up on his side.
posted by fpatrick at 2:10 PM on September 15, 2001

The problem with fundamentalism is that they want to control everyone yet no one is supposed to touch them.

We face that within our borders everyday.

This time though, someone came in from the outside to try and push us around.
posted by BarneyFifesBullet at 2:19 PM on September 15, 2001