Definition

Noun: 1. A strict adherence to specific theological doctrines typically characterized by a literal interpretation of sacred texts: Fundamentalism is a religious movement or attitude that emphasizes strict conformity to a set of basic principles, often viewing sacred scriptures as inerrant and literally true. 2. A movement or point of view marked by rigid adherence to fundamental or basic principles: While originally and most commonly applied to religion, the term can be extended to describe a similarly uncompromising adherence to the basic tenets of any ideology or theory.

Usage and Examples

• Religious Context:
  • The rise of religious fundamentalism has influenced politics in the region.
  • He studies the history of Christian fundamentalism in the 20th century.
• Extended/Figurative Context:
  • Some critics accused the group of market fundamentalism for its unwavering belief in free-market principles.
  • A form of environmental fundamentalism rejects any compromise on conservation issues.

Advanced Usage

• "scientific fundamentalism": Used, often critically, to describe a dogmatic insistence on the absolute truth of scientific materialism or a specific scientific theory, rejecting other perspectives.
  • The philosopher warned against scientific fundamentalism, which dismisses all non-empirical forms of inquiry.
• "secular fundamentalism": A term used to criticize an aggressive or intolerant form of secularism that seeks to exclude religious expression from public life entirely.
  • The debate centered on accusations of secular fundamentalism versus religious intolerance.

Variants and Related Words

• Fundamentalist (noun): A person who believes in religious or ideological fundamentalism.
  • The fundamentalist insisted on a literal reading of the text.
• Fundamentalist (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of fundamentalism or fundamentalists.
  • They adopted a fundamentalist approach to the doctrine.
• Fundamental (adjective): Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance. (Note: This is the root adjective, not directly implying the "-ism" ideology).

Synonyms

• Literalism: Adherence to the explicit substance of a text or doctrine.
• Dogmatism: The tendency to lay down principles as undeniably true.
• Orthodoxy: Authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice.

Antonyms

• Modernism: A tendency to adapt to modern ideas, especially in theology.
• Secularism: The principle of separation of the state from religious institutions.
• Relativism: The doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "a fundamentalist reading": An interpretation that insists on the literal truth of a text.
  • His fundamentalist reading of the constitution left no room for evolving interpretations.
• "to retreat into fundamentalism": To adopt rigid, fundamentalist beliefs, often as a reaction to perceived modern threats or complexities.
  • Faced with rapid social change, some communities retreat into fundamentalism.

Noun

1. the interpretation of every word in the sacred texts as literal truth