Page - 67 - in Limina - Grazer theologische Perspektiven, Volume 4:1

67 | www.limina-graz.eu Christian Feichtinger | Reinheit und fundamentalistische Gefährdung | BIOGRAPHY Christian Feichtinger ist Universitätsassistent am Institut für Katechetik und Religionspädagogik an der Katholisch-Theologischen Fakultät der Universität Graz, Lehrbeauftragter am Institut für Religionswissenschaft an der Universität Graz sowie im Hochschullehrgang Ethik an unterschied- lichen Standorten und Religionslehrer am BG/BRG Bruck an der Mur (der- zeit karenziert). E-Mail: christian.feichtinger(at)uni-graz.at | KEY WORDS Abscheu; Fundamentalismus; Gewalt; Reinheit Purity and the threat of fundamentalism Mary Douglasʼ seminal work Purity and Danger on purity, dirt and pollution offers additional perspectives for an analysis of the dynamics of fundamenta- lism. This article specifically applies Douglas’ categories in investigating the phenomenon of fundamentalism from a particular perspective. One defining element of fundamentalist ideology is the pervasive use of symbolic concepts of purity and sanctity. The idealisation of purity is interlinked with the abhorrence of and defence against thoughts, behaviours, lifestyles, individuals or societal processes that are perceived as contaminating and threatening. Theological, cultural-anthropological and socio-psychological approaches to the subject reveal that all religions are inextricably linked to notions of purity and sanctity and thus all hold fundamentalist potentials. As such, fundamentalism does not solely constitute a ‘misuse’ of religion. The phenomenon of fundamentalism is not restricted to the religious domain; secular ideologies, movements or poli- tical structures are equally susceptible to fundamentalist thought and its vio- lence. Focussing on the category of purity, this article explores the occurrence of fundamentalism, highlighting the role of violence, and sets out to take Douglas’ theory beyond the realm of religion.