Reply #4: Christian fundamentalism and

[tanyev]

Islamic fundamentalism are flip sides of the same coin.

Historian Martin Marty noted in his lecture ten characteristics of fundamentalism:

1. Fundamentalism is born in the soil of conservative, traditional, orthodox thinking BUT has evolved far beyond its initial beginnings.
2. Fundamentalism must feel threatened to generate passion.
3. In Fundamentalism, all compromise is suspect.
4. In Fundamentalism, you must react to think, thus there is often an attack mode employed.
5. Fundamentalism must draw sharp lines between THEM and US.
6. Fundamentalism needs certain faith documents, such as canon law, or the Scriptures, “rightly interpreted,” which is a springboard for its positions.
7. All Fundamentalisms claim the authority of God.
8. All Fundamentalists have a holy mission, a crusade, a cause, or a jihad.
9. Fundamentalists have a political agenda; they must elect God’s people to places of authority and influence.
10.Fundamentalists know the end, for they will win, for that is God’s will.

http://www.mmsucc.org/Reflections/fundamentalism.htm