📘 Lexicon Entry: Fundamentalism

Theological position treating biblical texts as uniformly authoritative and inspired, often rejecting critical scholarship in favor of literal interpretation across all genres

Theological position that treats all biblical texts as having uniform authority and inspiration, often rejecting critical scholarship and insisting on literal interpretation across all genres without discrimination. While historically grounded in defense of biblical authority, fundamentalism can become problematic when it conflates particular interpretive methods with biblical authority itself, leading to resistance of legitimate scholarly insights about genre, context, and theological development within Scripture.

Theological Genealogy

biblical authority, inerrancy, literal interpretation, conservative evangelicalism, hermeneutics, biblical criticism

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Fundamentalism.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Examined through historical analysis of evangelical development, hermeneutical studies, and theological methodology

B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen, Carl F. H. Henry, John MacArthur, Karl Barth

Related Genealogies: Cotton Evangelicalism, Covenant Theology

Key Mutations: Primitive Biblicism, Tribal Epistemology

Theological Alternatives: Analogical Reading, Analogical Metaphysics

Contemporary Movements: Christian Nationalism

May 26, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*

Codified in “The Fundamentals” pamphlet series (1910-1915) as reaction against liberal theology and higher criticism in early 20th century

Developed through 20th-century conservative evangelicalism and Reformed orthodoxy, institutionalized in fundamentalist denominations and educational institutions

B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen, Carl F. H. Henry, John MacArthur

“The Fundamentals” pamphlet series, Princeton theology writings, contemporary fundamentalist systematic theologies

Remains influential in conservative evangelical and Reformed circles, often combined with dispensationalism and premillennial eschatology

Represents legitimate concern for biblical authority while potentially conflating scriptural inspiration with particular hermeneutical approaches

Primitive Biblicism, Analogical Metaphysics, Analogical Reading