The Scandal of Fundamentalism

It has become common for the term fundamentalism to be used in a vague and undefined way as a term of abuse. It is being used in this way in an article in the Feb 2008 edition of Life and Work “A New Reformation” pages 23-25.

My Collins English Dictionary defines fundamental as ‘1. of, involving, or comprising a foundation; basic. 2. of, involving, or comprising a source; primary.’ Fundamentalism should then properly describe the appeal to what is fundamental, foundational or primary.

Most recently Andrew McGowan in his book The Divine Spiration of Scripture (IVP 2007) describes the history of ‘the publication of a series of volumes to articulate and defend the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith’ (p. 87, see section pp. 87-97). This is the background to the use of the term in the United States of America. It is surely in this sense that we ask Ministers at Ordination and Induction ‘Do you believe the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith contained in the Confession of Faith of this Church?’ We affirm that there are fundamental doctrines; our Christian faith has a foundation in certain doctrines.

Thus the Church of Scotland is a fundamentalist church. The question then becomes to what do you appeal as fundamental, foundational or primary?