Discuss the view that the most important feature of religious fundamentalism is anti-modernism. [25 Marks]

It can be contended that the most important feature of religious fundamentalism is the lack of distinction between religion and politics as opposed to anti-modernism, as this aspect of the ideology has the most impact on society and is most intrinsic to it. Religious fundamentalism etymologically stems from the Latin word ‘fundamentum’, meaning base. As such, religious fundamentalism can be defined as a form of belief upholding the literal interpretation of religious scripture, from which society is restructured with scripture at its heart. For the purpose of this essay, ‘most important’ will be defined as the aspect of religious fundamentalism which has the greatest impact upon society and is most intrinsic to the ideology. As a consequence, a lack of distinction between religion and politics supersedes other aspects of religious fundamentalism in importance, including anti-modernism, the fundamentalist impulse, and militancy. These features will be addressed in turn. 
Though anti-modernism is a key feature of religious fundamentalism insofar as informing its hostility towards aspects of the modern world, it is superseded in importance by a lack of distinction between religion and politics. For religious fundamentalists, modernity is equated with the decline and decay of morality which is said to give rise to permissiveness and promiscuity. This is best illustrated by the Amish people, a group of Orthodox Christians who believe that most technology acts as a ‘temptation’, destroying their close-knit communities. As such, the Amish are characterised by a rejection of technology, and by extension, modernity. Though anti-modernism is a tenet of religious fundamentalism, there lies an inherent contradiction in the ideology’s stance on modernity. This contradiction is effectively drawn out when considering Islamic fundamentalism, and in particular groups such as ISIS, who used technology such as social media to recruit during their operations. This is diametrically opposed to their literal interpretation of Islamic scripture, which may deem such technology permissive. The above contradiction is effectively summarised by the theorist Bhikhu Parekh, who contends that fundamentalism ‘reconstitutes religion within the limits of modernity, even as it copes with modernity within the limits of religion’. Hence, the contradictory stance on anti-modernism lessens its importance to religious fundamentalism, especially when compared to features such as a lack of distinction between religion and politics. The latter is embraced more wholeheartedly within religious fundamentalism and has a greater impact upon society. 
[Paragraph on lack of distinction between religion and politics]
[Paragraph on militancy]
[Optional paragraph on the fundamentalist impulse]
[Conclusion]