fundamentalism

[fuhn-duh-men-tl-iz-uhm]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter),  a religious movement characterized by a strict belief in the literal interpretation of religious texts, especially within American Protestantism and Islam.

2. the beliefs held by those in this movement.

3. strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles.

   the fundamentalism of the extreme conservatives.

fundamentalism

/ ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. Christianity (esp among certain Protestant sects) the belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true

2. Islam a movement favouring strict observance of the teachings of the Koran and Islamic law

3. strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs

fundamentalism

1. A conservative movement in theology among nineteenth- and twentieth-century Christians (see also Christian). Fundamentalists believe that the statements in the Bible (see also Bible) are literally true.

Fundamentalists often argue against the theory of evolution. (See Scopes trial.)

Other Word Forms

• fundamentalist noun
• fundamentalistic adjective
• antifundamentalism noun
• antifundamentalist noun
• nonfundamentalist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fundamentalism¹

1920–25, fundamental + -ism; originally in reference to the American Protestant fundamentalism movement, which arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in reaction to modernism

Example Sentences

For numerous GOP voters, this suspicion is tied to religious fundamentalism and the very crux of the Scopes trial — that the theory of evolution contradicts the Bible and is, therefore, blasphemous.

From Salon

Her studies fostered deep empathy for humanity, leading her to later criticise fundamentalism across religions, including Hinduism.

From BBC

Their identity is an unsettling fusion of economic, religious, and educational fundamentalisms, designed to crush critical thought and enforce conformity.

From Salon

But they do not want to exchange political authoritarianism for religious fundamentalism, said al-Hadidi.

From BBC

In the world of Christian fundamentalism, for instance, this is a popular meme illustrating how they see family:

From Salon