The Nature and Risks of Fundamentalism

The article attempts to discuss the question of fundamentalism. After having discussed the Latin roots of the word, it analyses its origin, its modern use and presents certain characteristics of fundamentalism. In the second part of the paper, the relationship between religion and fundamentalism is discussed. The origin of fundamentalism can be found in a lack of "basic trustfulness". It consequently follows that a post-modem culture may be understood as an incubator of fundamentalism, the reason being that fundamentalism is a reactive system which has a fear of pluralism. This is applied to the Slovak context of racism. In conclusion we suggest certain tools against fundamentalism.