Semantics of Fundamentalism

Currently fundamentalism has come to mean the fanatic, fringe elements of any religion. This raises the doubt as to whether these extreme, intolerant views are "fundamental" to the religions in question. That they are not, is evident if their scriptures are taken in their true context.

Hinduism has always preached "Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu" irrespective of their religion. Also conquering the world was never the goal for Hindus like for Alexander & Napoleon.

Even the early non-Vedic religions like Buddhism & Jainism preached non-violence  as one of their important creeds. Buddhism's goal of achieving the ten perfections could be followed by any one. Jain monks & nuns so abhorred inhaling micro-organisms & causing their death, that they were wearing masks even in pre-Covid days!

With the advent of Jesus Christ, a new religion based on love & forgiveness dawned among the Semitic religions, replacing the "eye for an eye & tooth for a tooth." His Sermon on the Mount exhorted Christians to be virtuous like God. He stopped the stoning of a woman by asking the first stone to be cast by a perfect person. He even went to the extent of asking to "turn the other cheek." But all this was given the go-by during the Spanish Inquisition. But even during that time, the silver lining to the cloud was St.Teresa of Avila who gathered a group of women & practiced austerities to attain Salvation.

"That which you have been given is but the fleeting pleasure of this life. Better & more enduring is God's recompense to those, who when angered, are willing to forgive. He that forgives & seeks reconcilement shall be recompensed by God." (Surah 42, Verse  35) of the Holy Quran. 

Unfortunately, like the Spanish Inquisition, many have overlooked this dictum.

When Rabia of Basra was born in a very poor family, the Prophet reputedly appeared in a dream to her father & said "Do not be sorrowful for this daughter who is born is a great Saint." Her famous prayer, enjoins unconditional love of God, like St. Teresa's or Akka Mahadevi's or Meera's.

"O my Lord,

If I worship you from fear of hell, 

Burn me in hell.

If I worship you from hope of Heaven,

Exclude me thence.

But if I worship you for your own sake,

Then show me Your Eternal Beauty."

(But she has not achieved the renown of St. Teresa of Avila.)

Can not the above examples be considered as "fundamental" to the respective religions?