Fundamentalism: The Search For Meaning (Paperback)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192806068
• ISBN-13: 978-0192806062
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,028,982 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent discussion and description of religious extremism, June 30, 2004

By	David W. Southworth (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fundamentalism: The Search For Meaning (Hardcover)

This short book by Malise Ruthven provides a discussion of the meaning and context of religious fundamentalism (Ruthven often refers to it as the F-word). Ruthven looks at different aspects of the phenomenon, comparing and contrasting fundamentalists, traditionalists, and those who believe in the inerrency of their given religious texts.

The most valuable insights of this short book are the two on relatively long chapters on fundamentalism and nationalism, and how the two often intertwine and provide justification for the other.

The only weakness is that Ruthven focuses a majority of his efforts on the three "Abrahamaic" religions, i.e. Christianity, Islam, and Judiaism. There are some incursions into eastern religions (especially the recently kicked out of government BJP in India). Other than this, the book was an excellent effort to discuss this pressing topic.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sadly relevant, April 4, 2007

By	bjcefola (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This is an extended essay on the nature of fundamentalism, its historical roots and its relationship to religion and nationalism. The book is not just about Islamic fundamentalism, but rather fundamentalism as a 'family' including Christian, Jewish, and other siblings

The most crucial insight is that fundamentalism is not about religion but about fighting the oustider. The core issues of fundamentalism, for example homosexuality, women's rights, or evolution, are often of token significance within religion. Fundamentalists choose issues based on their utility in drawing lines between themselves and others, the focus is on fighting rather then on God. The fundamentalist strives for unity by removing the outsider, and pluralism is the worst kind of heresy.

Another insight is the relationship between fundamentalism and nationalism. They're both about drawing lines of separation, they both have shrines and saints, and both can be used to justify murder. They are essentially symbiotic, the one promoting the other.

Recommended as a first book on understanding the 21st century.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very solid, readable introduction, October 29, 2005

By	tarihci202 "tarihci202" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentalism: The Search For Meaning (Hardcover)

This short volume (available in hard and soft cover editions) is a very solid and accessible introduction to the topic. Like most contemporary scholars, Ruthven treats the issue of Fundamentalism as a reaction to the challenges of modernity. As a way of demonstrating this, his approach is comparative and cross-cultural, including not only the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but also serious treatment of other traditions as well (most notably Hinduism, but other religions are covered).

This being said, his primary concern is the development of fundamentalisms in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the majority of the work is devoted to trends in these three religions. In this (and in his emphasis on modernity), the work is similar to Karen Armstrong's THE BATTLE FOR GOD. Armstrong's work is far more detailed but, in my opinion, Ruthven is more analytically sound.

While certainly not the last word on this very important subject (the scholarship on fundamentalisms is both rich and broad), this is a fine introduction, well thought out and well written. A useful book for the classroom and an enjoyable read for everybody else.