OPTIMISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM

Explanatory style from nine religious groups, representing fundamental ist, moderate, and liberal view-points, was investigated by questionna ire and by blind content analysis of their sermons and liturgy. Fundam entalist individuals were significantly more optimistic by questionnai re than those from moderate religions, who were in turn more optimisti c than liberals. The liturgy and sermons showed the parallel pattern o f optimism. Regression analyses suggested that the greater optimism of fundamentalist individuals may be entirely accounted for by the great er hope and daily influence fundamentalism engenders, along with the g reater optimism of the religious services they hear.