The term fundamentalism is a loaded term and can connote both positive and negative images but what does it mean? I searched the internet and the best, most unbiased, definition that I could find is this:
I chose this definition because you can now apply that to any fundamentalist group, be it Muslim terrorists, or animal rights organisation. The basic principle is that they believe that their ideas are right and are unwilling to back down. The differences occur in the lengths that a group or organisation will go to in order to enforce their beliefs. Using the examples above, Muslim fundamentalist terrorists are prepared to kill for their beliefs (it must be said however that other Muslim fundamentalist organisations are not terrorists) whereas the animal rights organisation strictly protest and use non-violent methods.
Al-Qaeda
Here is an image of the fundamentalist group al-Qaeda. These are Muslim fundamentalists who by the US department of Defence’s definition are, trying to establish Muslim states throughout the world, destroy non-Muslim regimes and oust foreign influences from their lives. They do this because they believe that anti-Muslims and especially the Western world are destroying the world by not following the word of the Qur’an (their holy book).
The image shows a line of troops all holding fire arms and most wearing army uniform and covering their faces. They appear to be marching.
Anti-fox hunting
Here is an image of a protest outside of the Houses of Parliament against fox hunting. This is another, less violent, form of fundamentalist behavior.
Fascists
Nazi’s generally believed their race (german) was becoming impure (overloaded with foreigners, homosexuals and handicapped people) who were not worthy to live in Germany. They also believed that the Jewish and other foreign races were to blame for the defeat in WWI due to their lack of patriotism. They are widely accepted as being a fascist society. They like the Muslim Extremists were willing to kill for their beliefs. The image shows soldiers practising the infamous Hitler salute.
Amish
The Amish are another example of religious fundamentalists. They are Anabaptist Christians (believe that a baby cannot fit to a faith so a baptism at that age would be void. They are baptized at an age where they can commit- believer’s baptism). They live simple lives (probably due to the simple lives lived by those in the days of the Bible) and ban modern ‘essentials’ such as electricity and cars. They have strict rules for example they marry within the Amish community, and you must live the lifestyle however you are not Amish unless you have been baptized amongst others. This qualifies them as fundamentalists.
The image shows a woman in simple, (traditional) dress, wearing black. She is riding a horse and carriage.