Boundaries of Faith: Geographical Perspectives on Religious Fundamentalism (Human Geography in the New Millennium) (Human Geography in the Twenty-First Century: Issues and Applications)

Representing the first major effort to examine the spatial strategies inherent in fundamentalism, this unique text explores the development and impact of religious fundamentalist groups in a variety of settings. Religious fundamentalism has become a complex and controversial force in the cultural dynamics of contemporary societies around the world. Clear and balanced, "Boundaries of Faith" focuses on the significant relationships between fundamentalist movements and the geographical contexts in which they develop. Using a comparative perspective encompassing diverse settings around the world, the text focuses on the key themes of contextuality and territoriality. Contextuality is defined as the crucial link between every fundamentalist movement and the setting in which it arises. Territoriality explains the various ways in which fundamentalists seek to promote their beliefs by controlling the meaning and uses of geographical space, both sacred and secular. The intertwining of these themes highlights the importance of geographical perspectives in understanding the nature and impact of fundamentalism as a diverse yet global phenomenon. This will be an ideal text in human geography courses to help students apply geographical concepts to a crucial world issue.