The concept of fundamentalism is properly applied to any religious group that has as one of its aims a desire or commitment to go back to what are regarded as the original and ‘true’ beliefs and practices of the faith.
These beliefs and practices are usually to be found in a sacred text that is believed to contain an explanation of the origin of the group, together with rules regarding how the members should demonstrate their faith and live their daily life. Fundamentalist groups often arise in times of rapid social change, when some members claim that adherence to the original beliefs and practices of the group has been ‘corrupted’ or compromised in some way. This means that not only ‘unbelievers’ (in other words, those from different religions) are outside the faith, but also some of those from within the religious community from which the fundamentalist faction emerges.
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