Fundamentalism
Laws put forward these fundamentals as moderately conservative proposals, in a spirit which today might be called "evangelical" or "neo-evangelical." In the course of time, however, the word has come to describe the most extreme, closed-minded, militant opposition to a changing liberal theology. By extension, the term has also been applied to militant or extreme movements in other nations and religious traditions.
The term "fundamentalism" was introduced by Carl Laws, editor of the Watchman-Examiner, who proposed five central and non-negotiable doctrines: 1) biblical inerrancy; 2) the divinity of Christ; 3) the Virgin Birth; 4) the substitutionary theory of the Atonement; and 5) the resurrection and second coming of Christ literally interpreted.
Laws put forward these fundamentals as moderately conservative proposals, in a spirit which today might be called "evangelical" or "neo-evangelical." In the course of time, however, the word has come to describe the most extreme, closed-minded, militant opposition to a changing liberal theology. By extension, the term has also been applied to militant or extreme movements in other nations and religious traditions.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.