Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Movements

By Richard T. Antoun

Book Overview

The second edition of Understanding Fundamentalism provides a compelling and up to date picture of religious reactions against the modern secular world. Comparing Christian, Islamic, and Jewish fundamentalist movements, anthropologist Richard Antoun shows how all three share common characteristics. In each tradition, fundamentalists seek purity in an impure world, attempt to make the ancient past relevant to their contemporary situation, look to move religion out of the worship center and into every aspect of life, and actively struggle against the aspects of the modern world they regard as evil. The new edition addresses fundamentalism in the post-9/11 world, transnational religion, and the impact of religious migration on Afghanistan and Western Europe. A glossary and Antoun's readable style make the concepts readily accessible for beginning students. For classes in religious studies, anthropology, or sociology of religion, Understanding Fundamentalism brings a balanced introduction to these often-misunderstood religious activists.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742562093
• ISBN13: 9780742562097
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Highly useful text for anthropology instructors teaching about Islam

I have previewed this book in google previews. It appears to be a factual account of the authors interactions with individuals who are fundamentalist in their approach to their Islamic faith. I will be using it in my course at a community college this Spring, entitled 'Introduction to Cultural Anthropology'. I believe this is a book for our time given the US military incursions in Pakistan and Afghanistan. We can never know enough about other culture's points of view, and how those points of view lead to action. I am very saddened by Professor Antouns death and send condolences to his family.

research can be dangerous

Although the murder of the author is what first called my attention to this book, it deserves to be reviewed on its own merits, and it does have some. Richard Antoun's 40 years of experience observing a Muslim community in Jordan gave him ample opportunity to observe Islam. His family background and exposure to Christianity and conversion to Judaism gave him a vantage point to notice the similarities between the three major Monotheistic religions extant today. He lucidly describes the 7 criteria he uses to determine the fundamentalist nature of a sect and gives an even handed overview of his research. As a Christian, it was enlightening to discover how my particular denomination is characterized by an "outsider." Some of us take the verse about being "peculiar people" a bit too much to heart. He didn't make outrageous accusations, or any other type of accusation, but merely recorded his observations. I hope that's not what got him killed, but it might be worth noting that his murderer was neither Christian nor Jewish. He wasn't trying to offend, merely to inform and instruct. Dangerous practices these days, it would seem.

Sad News

The author of this book was murdered today by Abdulsalam S. al-Zahrani in his office at Binghampton University.