Defining Religious Fundamentalism

This is a 10 minute survey examining how people define religious fundamentalism. Our goal is to analyze participants' definitions and publish the results. We believe many stereotype fundamentalism and we wish to report people's true definitions.

You are free to not answer any question and stop taking this anonymous survey at any time without any negative repercussions. If you have questions, please email the researcher Dr. Russ Phillips (rep50@pitt.edu). Thank you so much for your time!

Please define religious fundamentalism IN YOUR OWN WORDS (do not look up the definition). It is the only open-ended question in the survey, so it is very important that you be as thorough as you can. If you do not know what religious fundamentalism means, you can say that, but it would be very helpful if you gave it a shot.

For the following questions, please rate the extent to which you believe each statement accurately DEFINES/DESCRIBES RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM. We are NOT asking how much YOU BELIEVE IN/AGREE with each item. RATHER, we are asking how much you think each statement ACCURATELY DESCRIBES RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM.

1. Religious fundamentalism involves getting back to the pure, original, fundamental teachings of one’s faith.

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2. According to religious fundamentalists, the Bible is the divine word of God.

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3. According to religious fundamentalists, everything in the Bible is true and accurate.

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4. According to religious fundamentalists, a person can understand the Bible as is, with no need to rely on outside sources such as science or history to interpret its meaning.

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5. According to religious fundamentalism, the Bible is accurate, even if science or historical evidence finds something to the contrary.

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6. Religious fundamentalists believe their faith is true in a way that other faiths aren’t.

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7. According to religious fundamentalism, there is one particular faith that shows us how to live the most meaningful life and realize our potential.

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8. According to religious fundamentalism, there is one particular faith that provides the surest path to salvation.

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9. Religious fundamentalists believe the Bible has all the answers to the questions they have in life.

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10. Religious fundamentalists believe they must always follow their faith's authority (e.g., God, the Bible, faith leader), whether they feel like it or not.

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12. Religious fundamentalists believe that all of their faith’s teachings should be believed – one shouldn’t pick and choose what one wants to believe.

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13. Religious fundamentalists believe it is unhelpful to doubt or criticize the ultimate truth of their faith.

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14. According to religious fundamentalism, God's laws are such that punishment inevitably follows from disobeying the Bible's teachings.

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15. According to religious fundamentalists, the Bible is timeless – it should not change – it has been and will always be true.

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16. Religious fundamentalists believe in traditional values, such as traditional gender roles (men are the provider/leader of the family; women are the caretakers), and sex should only be within marriage, between a man and a woman.

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17. According to religious fundamentalism, the followers of other faiths should not assume they deserve the same earthly rights as the followers of the fundamentalists' religion.

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18. According to religious fundamentalists, people today care too much about being tolerant, aware, and respectful of other religions. Rather, they should focus on upholding the truth of the fundamentalist's religion.

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21. Religious fundamentalists are concerned that many who claim to be of their religion have fallen away from the path, or compromised their beliefs.

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22. Religious fundamentalists believe it is important to be ever mindful of the corrupt and immoral nature of modern society.

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23. According to religious fundamentalism, it is better to protect oneself from the influence of the world, in terms of whom one associates with.

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25. Religious fundamentalists believe it is important to be discipline, implement, and apply the Bible across all aspects of their life.

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26. Religious fundamentalists are concerned that faith is left out of more and more public matters today, such as schools and the government.

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27. Sharing their faith with others – especially those who are not of their faith – is one of the main things that religious fundamentalists are called to do.

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28. Religious fundamentalists believe every Biblical prophecy has come true, and will continue to come true in the future.

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29. Religious fundamentalists believe we are in the last days.

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30. Religious fundamentalists believe that Jesus will come to take those of their faith - the saved - to heaven.

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31. Religious fundamentalists believe they must be prepared to answer the criticisms they face in this world.

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32. Religious fundamentalits prepare for and accept the fact that violence might be necessary to deal with nonbelievers.

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Religious fundamentalists believe that the Bible must be taken literally, word for word.

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Religious fundamentalists' BELIEFS - not just about religion, but OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS AS WELL - are solid as a rock - they don't change.

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Religious fundamentalists think in black and white, with no shades of gray (e.g., there is right and wrong, no in between; there are two kinds of people in the world, etc.).

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Are you a fundamentalist?

Yes
No
Unsure
No idea what the term means

What is your age?

What is your gender?

Male
Female
Transgender

What is your race/ethnicity?

What is your highest education level completed?

Less than high school education
High School
Some College
Associate's Degree or Technical Degree (cosmetology, electrician, plumber)
Bachelor's Degree
Master's or Doctorate

What is your religion?

Christian (nondenominational, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.)
Jewish (orthodox, reform, conservative, etc)
Muslim (Sunni, Shi'ite, etc)
Buddhist (Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, etc)
Hindu
Atheist
Agnostic
No Religion
Other