Definition
Fundamentalism is a movement or attitude characterized by strict, literal adherence to the foundational texts or principles of a religion, and by resistance to reinterpreting those foundations in light of modern thought.
The term originated in early twentieth-century Protestant Christianity, where it described a return to what its proponents regarded as essential "fundamentals" of the faith. It has since been applied more broadly to comparable movements within other religions, and sometimes — more loosely — to non-religious ideologies.
Why it matters
How it works
A fundamentalist reading treats a foundational text as fixed, complete, and not subject to correction by external knowledge. Where a scientific or historical finding conflicts with the text, the literalist position is to retain the text.
Dawkins's objection is methodological: he argues that holding any conclusion immune to evidence runs against the scientific habit of revising beliefs when the facts demand it.