ABSTRACT
Self-esteem, a positive attitude towards the self, is a primary source of human motivation. Fundamentalists achieve it by their two core beliefs: God has spoken to them personally and they have obeyed his command to struggle against Satan. From their association with the Almighty and favourable comparison with his enemies, they derive self-esteem. Further, they perceive themselves to be playing a central role in human history, acting as God's agents. Self-esteem is also found in the approval of their fellow believers as they act out their roles in family and movement environments. They further defend it by treating persecution as evidence of God's approval.
