Fundamentalism

1. COMMUNALISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM
Lecture by
RAM PROSHAD BARMAN
DEPT. OF SOCIOLOGY
BEGUM ROKEYA UNIVERSITY, RANGPUR. BANGLADESH
Two major concern of the recent decade

2. FUNDAMENTALISM
Fundamentalism is the type of religious behavior that embraces a central
religious text and places it in such a holy, sacred place that it becomes
considered infallible and from God rather than man.
Fundamentalists take the tenets of their religion so seriously that Earthly
evidence will not dissuade them from their religious views.
Fundamentalism is often seen as violent, intolerant, backwards, inhuman,
and godly
Fundamentalism as a movement arose in the United States among
conservative Presbyterian theologians in the late 19th century and soon
spread to the Baptists and other denominations around 1910-20.

3. FUNDAMENTALISM
Its purpose was to reaffirm five key theological tenets, such as the inerrancy of
every word of Bible, virgin birth of Jesus, bodily resurrection of Jesus, historical
reality of Jesus' miracles, etc. Those who subscribed to these five fundamentals
came to know as fundamentalists.
Islamic fundamentalists, believe that Islam is based on the Qur’an, Hadith and
Sunnah and “criticize the tradition, the commentaries, popular religious practices,
deviations and superstitions.
Islamic fundamentalism has appeared in many countries.
Islamic fundamentalist movement have their origin in the late 19th century.
Scholars identify several politically active Hindu movements (RSS, VHP) as part of
the “Hindu Fundamentalist”

4. DEFINITIONS OF FUNDAMENTALISM
DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OFFUNDAMENTALISM
Webster Dictionary: A movement in 20th century stressing strict
adherence to a set of basic principles
Oxford Dictionary: A movement for the strict maintenance of the
doctrines of any religion After 9/11 term Fundamentalism was
written as Muslim Fundamentalism

5. ROOTS OF THE TERM
FUNDAMENTALISM
Nigra Bible conference Things
that were fundamental to the
Christian Term fundamentalism is
Christian in its origin

6. FUNDAMENTALISTS
Members of the movement are
known as fundamentalists The
most energetic group but least
educated are known as
fundamentalists

7. SOURCE OF THE
FUNDAMENTALISM
Religious issue is the source of
fundamentalism These rules
cannot be changed People are
afraid to oppose the
fundamentalists

8. BELIEFS OF THE
FUNDAMENTALISTGROUPS
There beliefs are based upon the divine
and revealed texts, These texts are
considered to be the perfect and cannot
be changed. Members reject all other
beliefs and religion except their own.

9. HISTORY, PURPOSE & TYPES
HISTORY ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALISM Religious
fundamentalism becoming the part of the
government Greater potential of harm.
PURPOSE OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM Usually
occur in all Religions Ways of life should be
according to the rules as prescribed by God State
should be subservient to God
DIFFERENT TYPES Islamic fundamentalism Hindu
fundamentalism Jews fundamentalism Christian
fundamentalism

10. DIFFERENT TYPES OF
FUNDAMENTALISM
ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM
Links the spiritual world to the temporal world and
provide guidance regarding religion and life
Islamist movements like Hamas and Islamic Jihad
Dec 1993 Hamas carried out a brutal kidnapping In
the same week Hamas carried out the killings and
brought their terrorist activities to a new peak

11. CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM
CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM
In late 19th and early 20th century Christian Its main
purpose was to reaffirm older beliefs of protestant
Christianity and defend them against the challenges of the
Darwinism Islamic and Christian Fundamentalist don’t like
to be placed in the same category as Islamists saw no
difference b/w the fundamentalists and non-
fundamentalist group

12. HINDU FUNDAMENTALISM
Recent phenomena in India was the rise of the
Hindu Fundamentalism and it lead to the
political mobilization against Muslims Shiv
Sena founded in 1996 originally to express
Hindu Fundamentalism Dec 1992 Hindu
Fundamentalists destroyed the 450 year old
Babri Mosque

13. EFFECTS OF FUNDAMENTALISM
Terrorist activities and violence spread throughout the
Middle East and Asia Present a genuine danger to the
stability of the government They are in tireless struggle to
subvert the government authority by exploiting the
democratic process through the terrorism
Some people thinks that there is a mysterious and
unbelievable genetic revolution that they are not afraid of
anything.
Madrassas or religious schools are now teaching
fundamentalist Islamist view and new meaning of Jihad
Established a new standard for violence and terrorism from
kidnapping, hijacking and bombing

14. SOME COMMON THINGS
Fear is common denominator among them They fear
change, modernization and loss of their influence They
fear that young will be distracted from their paths Use of
Holy Places for material and physical gratification
Especially fear the education if it undermine the teaching
of the religion They also fear the future they cant control
Fear of media and its abilities

15. CONCLUSION
Some says it the death of the
capitalism Religious fundamentalism
is a threat to our society Religions
never ask for war or killing except in
case of self defense