The dangerous spiral of extreme fundamentalism
By Steve Taylor
How dangerous are extreme and radical views? Plenty, especially when they endanger the life, liberty and well being of others. Harsh views only need a justification for their existence and a mechanism to be released and they will yield harm. In other words, something is required to remove the moral restraint on one's behavior.
One such reason or justification is known as extreme religious fundamentalism, an interpretation of religious doctrine that excludes views differing from its own. This phenomenon exists in various forms throughout the world and can, in fact, be found in most societies. The danger thus posed in such circumstances is not limited to the individual, but rather to society as a whole.
So then what is an "ism"? It can be a state or condition, an act, a characteristic or doctrine. For example, alcohol alone is okay, but add an "ism" and it becomes alcoholism, and alcohol's bad nature revealed. Radical viewpoints are generally acceptable to a free society until they evolve into extreme radicalism or violent fundamentalism, either of which can threaten the status quo. In fact, both are interrelated.
According to John Balzar a writer with the Los Angeles Times, radicalism can be defined as "the foundation source of something; fundamental; basic." Extreme fundamentalism then is a slippery slope that operates along the same principle. Strong fundamental beliefs in themselves can be acceptable to others, but add an "ism" and fundamentalism has the potential to draw one down an extreme slope; it essentially opens the door for narrow views and questionable behavior that can be harmful to others.
The form of extremism currently most familiar to Americans after 9/11 is probably Muslim fundamentalism. It is arguably, from what has been witnessed, a dangerous and highly visible kind of fundamentalism to people the world over.
For instance, using the example of 9/11, what would encourage 19 men to crash jetliners into buildings with the unavoidable certainty of their own deaths? One must assume it was their belief in the justness of their actions and the glory attained when they depart this life, proceeding straight to heaven under the terms of their religion, with the admiration of their countrymen and prayers from their family.
Americans have, in fact, had many encounters with this particular form of extremism in recent history. In hindsight, the warning indicator of this developing trend was the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Iran on November 4, 1979, that followed the toppling of the secular government run by the Shah of Iran. The Shah's government was replaced by a Muslim religious state that was hostile to the West. Since then, similar religious extremism has spread throughout the Muslim world as more and more idealists are drawn to its call.
However, it's important to note that other religions aren't immune from extreme fundamentalism. In fact, the term originated in the early 20th century in Protestant churches. According to the Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., online encyclopedia, "The name fundamentalist was coined in 1920 to designate those 'doing battle royal for the Fundamentals.'"
But the U.S. is a secular state, and, as such, tolerates differing views and interpretations in the context of religious and personal freedom. For this reason it was highly unsettling to hear the Reverend Jerry Falwell describe the motivating events of 9/11 in the following quote: "I really believe the pagans, the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen." His intolerance of others' views and beliefs seems to epitomize religious extremism as it is operating in some quarters in America today.
The common thread linking religious fundamentalists, whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian or any other religion is that they all share the same view that divinely inspired scripture is the only true moral law. This view primarily holds that a particular religion's sacred words should be taken as literal truth, which only they, the extreme fundamentalists so often claim, truly understand. Herein lies the danger to civilized society because extremism allows no outside interpretation or, quite importantly, will permit no challenge to its view.
The dangerous spiral of extremism of almost any form or of almost any type, has historically led ever downward into a whirlpool that gathers momentum and drowns out the voice of reason. The intolerance of extreme fundamentalism is in direct contrast to the spirit of Western Philosophy and can frequently be viewed as the irrational fighting the tide of rational thinking. Only through public awareness and action directed at curbing the end violence that so frequently is the result of extremism in any of its forms will this dangerous movement recede from the contemporary stage in the affairs of humankind.
