Traditional religion, fundamentalism, and institutional transition in the 20th century

That religion remains an institutional force in American society is clear; what is not as clear is the understanding of the transformations it has undergone during the past century. This paper attempts to explain changes in fundamentalism in the United States, as it developed and persisted alongside traditional and modernist forms of religion. Traditional religion may include but is not defined by fundamentalist religion, as demonstrated by a consideration of several relevant dimensions of religiosity. The shifts in discourse and mission within fundamentalism are assessed in light of the Scopes trial, which was the first event that consolidated the resources of fundamentalism in their totality. One dramatic result of the trial has been a shift in the types of religiosity of fundamentalism, increasingly accompanied by a “this worldly” form discourse which has further separated it from much of traditional religion.