Blackwell Reference Online

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A movement originating in the USA, which takes its name from the publication of a series of pamphlets during the early part of the twentieth century (1910–15) called The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth (Torrey, [1917] 1980). The movement took on a more organized form with the convening of the World Conference on Christian Fundamentals in Philadelphia in May 1919. In reaction to what was perceived as a ‘modernist’ trend in theology by the more liberally inclined theologians (see L iberalism ; M odernism ), the authors of The Fundamentals sought to restate the basic tenets of orthodox theology in the form of several ‘fundamentals of the faith’. Among these were: an inspired and inerrant Bible; the deity of Christ and his atoning death for sin on the cross; his bodily resurrection and ascension; and his return to judge the world, consign the Devil and unrepentant sinners to hell and resurrect those who belonged to Christ to live eternally in heaven with God ( Ellingsen, 1988 , pp. 49–72). These fundamental doctrines were used as a touchstone to identify denominational leaders and theologians who were suspected of ‘modernist’ tendencies. Fundamentalism as a movement has both spiritual and theological antecedents in the evangelical revivals in Britain as well as in the USA. In Britain the eighteenth-century revival led by John Wesley (1703–1791) led to an evangelical awakening ... log in or subscribe to read full text