Category: Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism, as it pertains to religion, is defined as “a form of religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict interpretation of scripture.” In our day, the term is typically used as a criticism. Note this quote from Wikipedia: “Depending upon the context, the label “fundamentalism” can be a pejorative rather than a neutral characterization, similar to the ways that calling political perspectives “right-wing” or “left-wing” can have negative connotations.

Such a characterization is understandable, as Islamic fundamentalists often use force in an effort to make the world conform to their religious views. As an example, the Iranian government has recently come under criticism for its response to women who do not conform to the fundamentalist views of modesty. A “morality police” actively cited and arrested women for their violation of the code, and at least 508 protestors have been killed and another 19,000 arrested in recent conflicts over the laws. Continue reading “Religious Fundamentalism” →