ABSTRACT
Fundamentalism undoubtedly enjoys a global significance. In recent years it has expressed itself in various forms and is frequently associated with many of the major world religions including Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. Like those of 'cult' and 'sect', 'fundamentalism' suggests a religious bigotry at best, and fanaticism at worst. The fact remains, nonetheless, that as a form of religiosity it is poorly understood by both Western governments and the general public at large. In recent years it has expressed itself in various forms and is frequently associated with many of the major world religions including Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. Fundamentalism is open to interpretation, and most of the important contrasting accounts have been considered in this chapter. Even with references limited to Christian fundamentalism there is some disagreement between academics studying religion as to which groups should be included under the rubric of 'fundamentalism'.
