The Idea
The idea is that fundamentalist movements do not suffice with a direct rational discourse, but instead mobilize in their audience the inherited religious imaginary and the traditional theological lexicon. They summon old images and inherited expressions to confer on their call affective force and symbolic authority. In this way, they operate not only at the level of argument, but at the level of religious stimulation and collective memory, where people find what matches what they are used to hearing.
Concise Formulation
Fundamentalist movements: mobilize: the inherited religious imaginary and the traditional theological lexicon
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim comes in a context that explains how fundamentalism works within society, not as an abstract idea, but as a discourse that draws on an old cultural reservoir. This is consistent with the book’s argument that fundamentalist movements understand their power through their ability to summon familiar language and mobilize inherited symbols. For this reason, repetition here does not appear innocent, but rather as an instrument of influence.
Why It Matters
This statement matters because it reveals that the success of fundamentalism does not rest on conviction alone, but also on stirring what is deeply rooted in religious memory. This clarifies one aspect of Arkoun’s critique: the problem is not the existence of tradition, but its transformation into mobilizing fuel that closes off debate. From here, the need becomes clear for a reading that distinguishes between living inheritance and its instrumental use.
Brief Evidence
”It links the mobilization of fundamentalist movements to the exploitation of the inherited religious imaginary.” This evidence passage indicates that fundamentalism does not rely on rational argument alone, but rather draws on inherited images, symbols, and expressions. In this way, it works on collective memory and affective stimulation at the same time.
Reading Questions
- How does fundamentalist discourse make use of what is familiar in religious memory?
- Is the power of fundamentalism intellectual or also affective?
Level of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.