fundamentalism forever

752 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Political decisions influenced by religion

Fundamentalism Forever
In a world where science prevails and automation dominates, it’s easy to assume religion would eventually fade away in the process of global modernization. However, as society becomes increasingly concrete and traditional, religion gradually takes on a more prominent role in modern-day culture. With technology advancing and politics overwhelming the newsstands, mankind searches for assurance (in some cases escape) through various religions, customs, cults, and at times, extremist ideologies. Fundamentalism is emerging across the globe, affecting it for the better, and for the worst.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has created much controversy in the eyes of western civilization. Like the youth movement of the 1960s, war tends to create tension between tradition and newly adapted lifestyles. Plus, for every war in history, there have always been problems for the citizens of either side. Therefore, war exhibits fundamentalism at it’s best, easily allowing different religions to protest the “apparent” atrocities of customary civilization. In turn, some of these protests ended up taking a more extremist route when dealing with such radical issues. As Karen Armstrong puts it, “Perhaps the most important factor to understand about this widespread religious militancy is its rootedness in a deep fear of annihilation. Every fundamentalist movement I have studied in Judaism, Christianity and Islam is convinced that modern secular society wants to wipe out religion-even in America. Fundamentalists, therefore, believe they are fighting for survival, and when people feel that their backs are to the wall, some can strike out violently.” (Karen Armstrong)
To reiterate, fundamentalism is emerging simultaneously with gl...

... middle of paper ...

... of the world. As long as society continues to push the limits, fundamentalists will do the same. Like most governments, checks and balances is a must. Secular society will continue to modernize, as fundamentalists will continue to protest; neither will ever surpass the other. Karen Armstrong’s article proves that fundamentalism is here to stay.

Works Cited
Armstrong, Karen. “Fundamentalism is Here to Stay.” The Short Prose Reader. 13 ed. Eds: Muller, Gilbert H. & Wiener, Harvey S. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2013. 389-9.Print.

"French Veil Law." BBC News. N.p., 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. .

Larner, Jesse. "The Ground Zero Mosque and the War on Terror." The Huffington Post. N.p., 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. .

Show More
Related

  • Culture And Religion In Bruce Lincoln's Holy Terrors

    2438 Words  | 5 Pages

    Religion is a part of society that is so closely bound to the rest of one’s life it becomes hard to distinguish what part of religion is actually being portrayed through themselves, or what is being portrayed through their culture and the rest of their society. In Holy Terrors, Bruce Lincoln states that religion is used as a justifiable mean of supporting violence and war throughout time (Lincoln 2). This becomes truly visible in times such as the practice of Jihad, the Reformation, and 9/11. The purpose of this essay is to show that as long as religion is bound to a political and cultural aspect of a community, religious war and destruction will always occur throughout the world. A historical methodology will be deployed in order to gain

    Read More

  • The Violence Against Muslims Explained in the Article Modern-Day Witch Hunts by Jamie Dailey

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article “Modern-Day Witch Hunts”, Jamie Dailey focuses the attention on problems that Muslim Americans commonly face on a day-to-day basis. He first paints a picture by comparing the violent acts performed on Muslims to the Salem Witch trial in 1692. The Salem Witch trials resulted in 19 deaths of innocent individuals, because they were accused of witchcraft. Dailey goes on to explain in America, the type of persecution Muslims endure has many forms. A more recent controversy towards this religion involves the building of the Ground Zero Mosque in central New York. The name of this building is very misleading, especially to the eyes of an American. Even though this structure is actually built a few blocks away from where the former World Trade Center stood, problems have still risen from the public. Americans often mistake Muslims as the group of people who had performed acts of terrorism on American soil, when it was actually an Islamic group known as Al Qaeda. Mosques all across the United States started being vandalized by people protesting against their religion. This article shows how irrational fear can corrupt the thoughts of people.

    Read More

  • Desert Religions Richard Rodriguez Analysis

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his essay, Rodriguez believes that the diplomatic affairs we see on the evening news are merely being disguised as a religious war. The fight over oil or land when in reality it is the fight between whose side God is on, the attacks under the control of Al Qaeda when perhaps it’s the greed for power or world domination. According to Richard, these religious wars are allowing terrorism to become prevalent; often times within the same culture (147).

    Read More

  • The Current Religion of the American Economy as a Barrierand Substitute for Christian Living

    2954 Words  | 6 Pages

    Whatthe U.S. has done, indeed what most of us have endorsed, to traditionalreligion is well ! described by Jeffrey Haynes in his essay on religion andpolitics: Almosteverywhere, modern states have sough to reduce religions politicalinfluence, to privatize it and hence significantly reduce its political andsocial importance. But . . .states have also recognized the importance of religion for politics by seekingto create civil religionsthat is, bodies of state designatedreligious dogma. The purpose wasto engineer consensual, corporate religious forms that could claim to be guidedby general, culturally appropriate, societally specific beliefs, notnecessarily tied institutionally to any specific religious tradition. The development of civil religion wasoften part of a strategy not merely to avoid social conflicts but also to tryto promote national co-or! dination in countries with serious religious and/orideological...

    Read More

  • Republicans and Christianity: Can a Political Party Own a Religion?

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most important aspect to consider is why political parties split when it comes to religious battles in the first place. Glaeser (2005) starts this argument by explaining that when you attract the median-voter there is always a high voting turnout. If this is true, then why do politicians take both ends of the spectrum in most cases when it comes to issues like same-sex marriage and abortions? Glaeser (2005) contends that there are statistical evidence that supports the connection between religious attendance and religious extremism. Exit polls from the 2004 Presidential election show a strong rise in the correlation between religious attendance and party affiliation. This happens because religion as a whole becomes a medium for discussion, much like major news organizations. The only difference is that religion is singular in its method, as Glaeser (2005) points out, in that the people focus on one issue and decide politically based on the preferences shown. The political parties differ for two majo...

    Read More

  • Religion In Brave New World Essay

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    ―"Religion in “Brave New World“." Religion in Brave New World. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2014.

    Read More

  • American Fundamentalism

    1247 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ered a depth of understanding of the progression of the fundamentalist movement, and through that have come to better appreciate its impact on American culture. I have also obtained a better outlook on how the movement’s leaders interpreted and responded to their context which lead to further developments of fundamentalism. Previous assumptions of this movement have been reevaluated and adjusted from a flat narcissistic view of militarism fundamentalism to one that seeings the complex nuances within the overall movement. I appreciated the comprehensive analysis that included both the intellectual and social forces which made the whole movement comprehendible to the reader. One can see clearly where the antebellum period, Baconism, Common Sense realism, Premillennialism, Pietism, and many other influences contributed to the fundamentalist view within American society.

    Read More

  • Jihad: What America Created

    1751 Words  | 4 Pages

    Winter, T. (2011), America as a Jihad State: Middle Eastern Perceptions of Modern American Theopolitics. The Muslim World, pp. 101: 394–411.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply

    Read More

  • What Makes Islam, Islam?

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion can be viewed from many different perspectives. People throughout the world hold different religious values. One person’s religious value will not match the religious values of another person. Globalization as a whole has affected the way we view the different religions and our feelings towards them; it has moved towards a more symbolic representation of ideologies. Many have come to believe that the west is more superior to others. Martha Crenshaw argues that globalization is a key driver of terrorism because there is a comparison between countries having less access to means of production and others having more access. Furthermore, most religions go against each other’s beliefs and as for Islam; they have neglected the ideologies of the west. In order to understand how religious values are interconnected is through language games; we think in certain ways because of issues of power.

    Read More

  • Secularism in the View of Religious Community

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kosmin, Barry A. "Hard and soft secularists and hard and soft secularism: An intellectual and research challenge.".

    Read More

  • Is Religious Fundamentalism Always Totalitarian and Prone to Violence?

    1863 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religious Fundamentalism is not a modern phenomenon, although, there has received a rise in the late twentieth century. It occurs differently in different parts of the world but arises in societies that are deeply troubled or going through a crisis (Heywood, 2012, p. 282). The rise in Religious Fundamentalism can be linked to the secularization thesis which implies that victory of reason over religion follows modernization. Also, the moral protest of faiths such as Islam and Christianity can be linked to the rise of Religious Fundamentalism, as they protest the influence of corruption and pretence that infiltrate their beliefs from the spread of secularization (Heywood, 2012, p. 283). Religious Fundamentalists have followed a traditional political thought process yet, have embraced a militant style of activity which often can turn violent (Heywood, 2012, p. 291). To be a fundamentalist is to wholly believe in the doctrine they are preaching or professing and will go to any lengths possible to have these beliefs implemented by their government , even using force or violence ( Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson, 2007, p. 149). All religions have a fundamentalist element, however, there is more of a significant conflict with Islamic fundamentalists and Christian fundamentalists. It is wrongly thought fundamentalism is exclusively linked to Islamic fundamentalist such as the jihadi group al-Qaeda nonetheless Christianity is the world's largest religion and is bond to have some fundamentalist component such as the Christian New Right in the Unites States of America (Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson, 2007, p. 150).

    Read More

  • The Roots Of Muslim Rage Analysis

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    In both given articles, “The Roots of Muslim Rage” by Bernard Lewis, and “The Roots of Muslim Rage Revisited” by Nicolaas J.E. van der Zee, argue about the enhancement of the Muslim fundamentalism with different perspectives; however, I believe that Lewis’ view may be quiet misleading to the actual perception. Lewis indicates that Muslim fundamentalism is conceived through the Muslim community’s oppression and dissatisfaction with the West’s political involvement, as well as “Islam is a source of aggression” . In defiance of Lewis’ opinion, the word ‘Islam’ comes from the word peace as well as the will of submission to God. The notion of aggression and violence that Lewis conceptualizes to be the headline of Islam does not have any supporting

    Read More

  • The Reluctant Fundamentalist

    2167 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a taut and engaging piece of fiction, exploring the growing chasm between the East and the West. Mohsin Hamid has used a rather unique narrative mode- the dramatic monologue –and used it skillfully to weave an account of a young Pakistani’s class aspirations and inner struggle in corporate America. Throughout the novel, Hamid maintains a tense atmosphere, an atmosphere of imminent danger and radical violence. What results from the two devices is an allegorical reconstruction of post-9/11 tensions, and an inflective young man’s infatuation and disenchantment with America.

    Read More

  • Cause and Effect Essay - The Causes of Terror

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    Radical Islamic fundamentalists hate our culture. They have a worldview that is incompatible with the way that Americans-and other westerners-live their lives. One part of this world view concerns women, who are to hide their bodies, have no right to property, and so on. Western sexuality, mores, music, and women's equality all violate their values, and the worldwide ubiquity of American cultural products, like movies and music, offends them. A second part concerns theocracy: they believe that governments should be run according to strict Islamic law by clerics. A third concerns holy sites, like those in Jerusalem, which they believe should be under Islamic political and military control. A fourth concerns the commercial and military incursions by Westerners on Islamic soil, which they liken to the invasion of the hated crusaders. The way they see it, our culture spits in the face of theirs. A fifth concerns jihad-a holy war to protect and defend the faith. A sixth is the idea of a martyr, a man willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. His reward is eternal glory-an eternity in heaven surrounded by willing young virgins. In some cases, there is a promise that his family will be taken care of by the community.

    Read More

More about fundamentalism forever

Open Document