by Lewis Loflin
From Grolier:
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to Christian doctrines via literal Bible interpretation, born from a late 19th–early 20th-century Protestant push against modern science and philosophy.
Are fundamentalists just Bible-thumping fanatics? No—diverse, often divided. I define it here as a political/social movement, not a jab at Jesus or scripture. Pew 2021 shows ~60% of evangelicals shun Religious Right bigotry—liberals overplay the fringe. My note: Reason sifts hype from reality.
Examples span Orthodox Jews, Iranian Shiites, Sunni extremists, ultraconservative Catholics, some Mormons, even Marxists and atheists—rigid ideology, not faith, unites them. My note: Deism sees politics, not piety.
Forget “dumb rednecks”—fundamentalist activists are rich, white, educated, often boomers (born 1946–1964), chasing power and money (*Pew 2023*). From the 1870s, they’ve battled science and liberty—15% of Americans today, with ~2% in fringe terror (e.g., abortion clinic attacks, militias) (*SPLC 2022*). Conspiracy obsessions (Jews, Satan) thrive. My note: Educated, yes—rational, no.
*The Fundamentals* (1910–1915) lists five beliefs:
Plus: anti-modern theology, “true Christian” exclusivity, six-day creationism, KJV-onlyism. “Faith alone” (Augustine via Calvin/Luther) skips Jesus’ teachings—sin is sex or defiance, not ethics (*Confessions* 7.5). My note: Reason rejects depravity—humans aren’t trash.
Roots claimed in the NT, but it’s 19th-century—Puritan “heritage” is bunk; they built colonies, not the USA (*Marsden*). Enlightenment hit pre-1776; Great Awakenings (1730s, 1800s) faded. My note: Deism, not dogma, shaped America.
Some loathe democracy: “Satan’s spawn... God must rule” (*anon quote*). Founders were deists—Jefferson’s “Creator” was rational, not Augustine’s (*Declaration*, 1776). Civil War (1865) cracked Protestant dominance—industry and pluralism rose (*Ammerman*). My note: Reason trumps theocracy.
Post-1865, science (Darwin, 1859) and biblical criticism debunked six-day creationism—90% believe in God, 38% in theistic evolution (*Pew 2021*). Fundamentalists adopted occult twists (e.g., Christian Identity)—paranoia reigns. My note: Science exposes folly—faith needn’t falter.
Tent revivals (1830s) bred anti-education sects—semi-literate preachers spun cults (*Hatch*). Premillennialism (Darby’s dispensationalism, 1830s) hit Baptists, Pentecostals—claiming “new truth” (*Sutton*). “Faith alone” ignores Matthew–Luke; “rapture” isn’t scripture (*KJV*). My note: Reason calls this nonsense—Jesus’ ethics sidelined.
Leaders (Falwell, Robertson) lack theology creds, push theocracy—Old Testament brutality over civil law (*North*). Y2K (1999) flopped hard. My note: Deism guards liberty—cults threaten it.
1997 IFAS (*Freedom Writer*): 62% male, 97% white, 85% married; South-heavy (36%); 46% 35–50; 70% college+; 34% professionals, 39% $75k+. Updated 2023 (*Pew*): 55% male, 76% white, 70% married; 35% $75k+. Liberals: older (median 54), 15% non-white, 40% pros. My note: Elites, not workers—reason notes the gap.
2004: Bush won on “moral values”—44% Hispanic, 56% Catholic (*CNN*). 2023: 63% Christian, 25% evangelical, 31% secular (up 120% since 1990) (*Pew*). Evolution: 10% atheistic, 38% theistic—45% scientists believe in God. My note: Liberal flops, not fundie wins—reason tracks shifts.
