Overview
Fundamentalism explores the many ways the term "fundamentalism" is used in the media. It offers a more precise definition of what constitutes fundamentalism and analyzes the roots, ideas, and goals of fundamentalist groups around the world. This enlightening volume begins with a historical outline of the economic, social, and intellectual forces and trends that contributed to the development of Protestant fundamentalism. Ideal as a starting point for discussion, this historical outline addresses the adequacy of "fundamentalists" as an umbrella term for groups derived from other faith traditions; the various attempts to categorize fundamentalist groups; and the disagreements regarding their potential for personal or political violence. Next comes a closer study of specific fundamentalist movements in the United States, as well as four other regions: Europe (ultratraditional Roman Catholicism); Israel (fundamentalist Judaism); the Middle East (the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas); and India (fundamentalist Hinduism).
