What is Fundamentalism?

Answer

The term fundamental can be used to describe any religious inclination that adheres to its fundamental principles. Fundamentalism, as discussed in this article, refers to a movement within the church that upholds the core beliefs of the Christian faith. In contemporary times, the term fundamentalist is often employed in a pejorative manner.

The Fundamentalist movement traces its origins back to Princeton Theological Seminary due to its connection with alumni from that institution. Two affluent church laypersons commissioned ninety-seven conservative church leaders from various parts of the Western world to write 12 volumes on the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. These writings were subsequently published and more than 300,000 copies were distributed free of charge to ministers and other individuals involved in church leadership. These works were titled The Fundamentals and continue to be available today as a two-volume set.

Fundamentalism was formalized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by conservative Christians such as John Nelson Darby, Dwight L. Moody, B. B. Warfield, Billy Sunday, and others who were troubled by the erosion of moral values due to modernism—a belief that humans (rather than God) shape, enhance, and transform their surroundings through scientific knowledge, technology, and practical experimentation. Apart from combating the influence of modernism, the church was also grappling with the German higher criticism movement, which aimed to challenge the infallibility of Scripture.

Fundamentalism is based on five core principles of the Christian faith, although there is more to the movement than just adherence to these principles:

1) The Bible is considered to be literally true. This belief is linked to the conviction that the Bible is infallible, meaning it is without error and devoid of contradictions.

2) The virgin birth and divinity of Christ. Fundamentalists affirm that Jesus was born to the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that He was and

Jesus is the Son of God, fully human and fully divine.

3) The substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. Fundamentalism teaches that salvation is obtained only through God’s grace and human faith in Christ’s crucifixion for the sins of mankind.

4) The bodily resurrection of Jesus. On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God the Father.

5) The authenticity of Jesus’ miracles as recorded in Scripture and the literal, pre-millennial second coming of Christ to earth.

Other points of doctrine held by Fundamentalists include that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible and that the church will be raptured prior to the tribulation of the end times. Most Fundamentalists are also dispensationalists.

The Fundamentalist movement has often embraced a certain militancy for truth, leading to some infighting. Many new denominations and fellowships emerged as individuals departed from their churches in pursuit of doctrinal purity. One of the defining characteristics of Fundamentalism has been its self-perception as the guardian of the truth, often at the expense of differing biblical interpretations. During the rise of Fundamentalism, the world was witnessing the embrace of liberalism, modernism, and Darwinism, while the church itself was facing infiltration by false teachers. Fundamentalism emerged as a response to the erosion of biblical teaching.

The movement suffered a significant blow in 1925 due to liberal press coverage of the legendary Scopes trial. Despite the victory of Fundamentalists in the case, they faced public ridicule. Subsequently, Fundamentalism began to fragment and redirect its focus. The most prominent and vocal group in the USA has been the Christian Right. This faction of self-proclaimed Fundamentalists has been more engaged in political movements compared to most other religious groups. By the 1990s, organizations such as the Christian Coalition and Family Research Council had started to exert influence on politics and cultural matters. Today, Fundamentalism endures within various evangelical groups.

Groups such as the Southern Baptist Convention claim to have more than 30 million followers.

Like all movements, Fundamentalism has experienced both successes and failures. One of the significant failures may be allowing Fundamentalism’s critics to define what it means to be a Fundamentalist. Consequently, many individuals today perceive Fundamentalists as radical, snake-handling extremists who aim to establish a state religion and impose their beliefs on others. However, this perception is far from accurate. Fundamentalists strive to safeguard the truth of Scripture and uphold the Christian faith, which was “once for all entrusted to the saints” «Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. », (Jude 1:3).

The church is currently grappling with the challenges of postmodern, secular culture and requires individuals who are unashamed to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Truth remains constant, and adherence to the fundamental doctrines is essential. These doctrines form the foundation on which Christianity is built, and, as Jesus taught, the house constructed on the Rock will withstand any storm (Matthew 7:24-25).