Fundamentalism (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521766258)

This book investigates the origins of fundamentalism, outlining its characteristics and the history of key fundamentalist movements around the world, considering examples from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The book argues that fundamentalism develops when modern lay religious leaders challenge the authority of secular states and traditional religious establishments. These new leaders and their followers seek to infuse religious values and practices into all spheres, especially law, politics, education, and science. The patterns of religious authority and leadership that characterize fundamentalism have their roots in a Christian context but were globalized through intense intercultural contacts after the mid-nineteenth century. Fundamentalism is a thoroughly modern and global phenomenon because it presupposes the globalization of ideas and practices concerning religious leadership and organization, as well as universal changes in the relationship of religion to modern societies and states.

Author: Torkel Brekke
ISBN-10: 0521766257
ISBN-13: 9780521766258
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 12/26/2011
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.70w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2012