Fundamentalism

Here are some quotes and notes on fundamentalism from "Religion in the Modern World" by Steve Bruce 1996 (Info / Quotes).

Reformation led to fundamentalism:

"The legacy of the religious innovations of Luther, Calvin, and the other reformers strengthened and hastened a variety of social changes which we can understand under the general heading of individualism and which we can see in changes to styles of worship and religious music. Local languages replaced Latin. [...] Power shifted from religious professionals to the laity. [...] Believing in the right things came to be more important than making the right ritual actions"

"Religion in the modern world" by Steve Bruce [quotes/info] p3

De-centralisation, counter-intuitively, has allowed fundamentalism. The emphasis of evangelical groups on local church autonomy was not possible previously, de-centralisation goes with individualism, and the de-centralisation of belief from central authorities to individual believers has caused an explosion in schismatic fundamentalist groups who break apart frequently over variant interpretations of their beliefs.

Multiculturalism leads to doubt & extreme believers:

"The very fact of being challenged means that those who do choose to believe will often do so with an intensity and enthusiasm which would have surprised those of early periods who simply took their faith for granted. As we see in the efforts of the Methodists or the Scottish Free Church evangelicals, the challenge to evangelize can inspire a powerful movement, but what is gained in individual intensity is lost in background affirmation. Becoming religious is attended by more dramatic behaviour consequences, but fewer people do it. There are now more zealots but fewer believers."

"Religion in the modern world" by Steve Bruce [quotes/info] p46

Fundamentalism causes schism:

"The religion created by the Reformation was extremely vulnerable to fragmentation because it removed the institution of the Church as a source of authority between God and man. If, by reading the Scriptures, we are all able to discern God's will, then how do we settle disputes between the various discernings that are produced? [...] The consequence of the Reformation was not a Christian church strengthened because it had been purified but a large number of competing perspectives and institutions"

"Religion in the modern world" by Steve Bruce [quotes/info] p22

Trend: Fundie groups become more liberal over time:

"This suggests a very general pattern. Conservative sects grow and gradually become more liberal and more mainstream. Some conservatives resist this direction and break away to form new purified conservative sects. The new mainstream becomes more liberal and declines further. The new sects grow until they too become increasingly denominational and mainstream, and so on."

"Religion in the modern world" by Steve Bruce [quotes/info] p163

Causes/uniqueness of USA religion:

"If we have to choose just one major social variable to explain American religion, it would not be pluralism or voluntarism but ethnicity. American religion drew its strength from its role as the guardian of ethnic interests and the emblem of ethnic identity. That role has diminished, but, as we can see from the radical division between black and white churches, it is far from written out of the script"

"Religion in the modern world" by Steve Bruce [quotes/info] p165

S. Bruce develops a learnéd theory that cultural "transition" and "defence" are responsible for the USAs religious fanatacism. As incoming communities from developing countries establish themselves, their religion becomes a newfound source of their identity. As such it becomes important to them, in a country that is otherwise highly industrialized [Bruce, p197].