6Īmong the many definitions of fundamentalism, the following is particularly useful here: Fundamentalism is an "aggressive and marginalized religious movement which, in reaction to the perceived threat of modernity, seeks to return its home religion and nation to traditional orthodox principles, values and texts through the co-option of the central executive and legislative power of both the religion itself and the modern national state." 7 Right-wing, populist, anti-immigrant movements are on the rise in Europe, the United States, Australia and elsewhere, and the Western world has significantly contributed to the tragic development of Islamic fundamentalism. There are fundamentalist economic, political, nationalistic, religious movements aplenty in the West. However, fundamentalism in multiple different expressions is very much present in our Western societies, though most often less visibly and physically violent. We first need to understand the multifaceted political, economic and social causes of Islamic fundamentalism.īecause of the violent nature of their actions, Islamic fundamentalist movements have received an undue amount of media attention in recent times. The West, however, has yet to understand that a military response may give temporary answers to terrorism, but, in the long term, it is most likely to increase religious rage and extremism. In the Middle East, Islamic extremists are killing fellow Muslims and persecuting, even murdering, Christians and other minorities. 5 and the more recent terrorist assaults in London, Paris, Brussels, Orlando, Istanbul, Baghdad, Dhaka, Nice and Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and the ostensible inability of the Western nations to destroy the clandestine and brutal al-Qaeda network and the Islamic State (ISIS). 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. It is a menace that looms ever larger following the Sept. Islamic fundamentalism has replaced communism as the specter plaguing Western minds. The atmosphere is ready for the unsophisticated solutions offered by fundamentalist populist and often demagogic leaders.įor most people, fundamentalism in the modern world has become synonymous with a radical form of Islam. People then search for quick explanations of what is happening and ways out of their overwhelming confusion. Feelings of bewilderment and frustration result. 4 These changes threaten to devastate treasured personal and cultural identities and respected moral values. Those who dare to question them are intolerantly scapegoated as enemies of the truth.įundamentalist movements are most active and culturally apparent whenever there are periods in which radical political, social or economic changes cause cultural trauma in a nation as a whole or in smaller institutions or communities. They use words, or recourse to the ballot box, or, in extreme instances, bullets and bombs. They respond in dangerously simplistic but militant ways to fears that they will lose their identity. 2įundamentalism is "a religion of rage." 3 Fundamentalists are people who are outraged when they see the world around them disregarding their revered religious values. Pope Francis is right: "Fundamentalism is a sickness that is in all religions." And it strikes at the heart of the common good, because it prevents people from growing as individuals and contributing to the welfare of others. We are seeing something close to a global epidemic of fundamentalism. It is idolatry, like idolatry of money … We Catholics have some - and not some, many - who believe in the absolute truth and go ahead dirtying the other with calumny, with disinformation, and doing evil." 1 Pope Francis said, "Fundamentalism is a sickness that is in all religions … Religious fundamentalism is not religious, because it lacks God.
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