True fundamentalism, found in every religious tradition, represents a revolt against Western secular modernity out of a fear of extinction, a leading theologian and religious commentator said Tuesday night.

Karen Armstrong, author of 14 books including “The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism,” said fundamentalists are essentially separatist groups that believe they are engaged in a war for their existence, in a lecture in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union attended by more than 500 people.

“[Fundamentalism] is not a clash between civilizations, but is a clash within civilization,” she said.

Armstrong said a conservative Christian like Billy Graham is not a fundamentalist, since he engages in inter-religious dialogue, but that true fundamentalists “generally retreat from mainstream society to an enclave of pure faith.”

She said most fundamentalists are simply trying to live a religious life in an increasingly secularized world, and that religion becomes violent in response to other conflicts, like the political turmoil in the Middle East.

“Religion gets sucked into the conflict and becomes violent itself,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said several elements are involved in the modernization of society. With respect to Western society, democracy developed as more people became better educated and demanded a voice in decision-making. Scientists and thinkers began to demand independence of thought, as well.

She said it is the attempt to speed up the modernization process that induces fundamentalism. In some Muslim countries, modernization has been too rapid, and is interpreted by some Muslims as a “deadly assault,” Armstrong said.

“Fundamentalism develops in a symbiotic relationship with modernization,” she said.

Armstrong said the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 is an example of the fundamentalism phenomenon in the United States. In the trial, a Tennessee law that outlawed the teaching of evolution in schools was challenged and the secular press ridiculed those opposed to the teaching of evolution, she said. This caused the fundamentalists to retreat and develop a “society within a society” — complete with its own churches, colleges and publishing houses —and reintroduced itself to society as Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, she said.

“Any attempt to suppress a fundamentalist movement usually makes them more extreme,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said the fear of being snuffed out of existence makes fundamentalists emphasize religion’s more “belligerent” aspects rather than the charity and compassion found in their respective religions.

Armstrong said fundamentalist movements need to be seriously examined with attention to reading and interpreting the imagery of fear found among the groups. Suppression will only make things worse, she said.

“[We] must look at the movements seriously, and not dismiss them as loonies,” she said. “They are expressing fear that needs to be dealt with.”

Armstrong said it’s necessary to emphasize the “charity and loving kindness” in the various religious traditions in order to bridge the gap between modernity and fundamentalists.