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Fundamentalism

The word Fundamentalism describes a strongly held set of religious beliefs. Fundamentalist Religion became a recognized movement in the 20th Century as American Protestantism rose and grew to a fervor towards the end of the first World War. Followers of this movement were often referred to as militant due to the intense manner in which they upheld the teachings of the Bible and their beliefs in the Protestant doctrine. Protestant fundamentalist groups sought to prove the teachings of salvation, miracles and that Jesus was born of a virgin. They also fought strongly against the concept of Evolution.

The Scopes Trial

In 1925 the battle against the teaching of Evolution in public schools gained immense notoriety. A Fundamentalist group known as the Anti-Evolution League had been working to get a law passed that would ban the teaching of any evolutionary theory in public schools. They visited the legislative branches of every state government to lobby for this cause. A teacher named John T. Scopes continued to teach Evolution to his students, and as a result he was taken to court and prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was at one time a Democratic candidate for President who was a leading member of the Fundamentalist movement. When the case came to trial, Scopes was defended by Clarence Darrow. Darrow mocked the beliefs of William Jennings Bryan, and derided the ideals held by member of the Fundamentalist movement.

The Moral Majority

While Fundamentalism continued over the next few decades, it no longer received the level of attention it once had until the 1970's. In 1979, Reverend Jerry Falwell formed a militant Christian group which he named The Moral Majority. This group was opposed to what they considered to be the decadent lifestyles of many in the 1960's and 1970's. They sought to get Americans to return to a stronger system of Christian faith and beliefs. Some of their core goals included the teaching of creationism, prayer in public school and pro-life advocacy.

The members of this movement were also very much against homosexuality. They protested the Equal Rights Amendment because they felt it was supportive of homosexual rights. Their outspoken leaders and staunch attitudes stirred up the nation and brought many people to their cause. In 1980 they participated in major fund raising and voter registration programs, and they are considered to have been a major factor behind the election of Ronald Reagan as President.

The Moral Majority was disbanded by Jerry Falwell in 1989. He declared that the mission of the group had been accomplished. Since he believed they had achieved all of their goals, he saw no reason for the group to continue.

The Christian Coalition

Another major Fundamentalist group was founded in 1989 under the leadership of Pat Robertson. This group helped to bring about a Republican majority in Congress, and then initiated a program they called A Contract with America. The contract called for prayers to be brought back into public school, severe limitations on pornography, and an end to federal aid that benefited the artistic community. While many of the initiatives put forth by this group were not successful, they did accomplish many of their goals and build up their membership levels throughout the years.

The Christian Coalition was continued under the leadership of Pat Robertson until 2002, when he officially resigned.