As Fundamentalism originally referred to a Protestant movement in the 20th century, one of its basic beliefs was the literal truth of the bible. That is one of five faith doctrines of Protestant fundamentalism. Now, the word is starting to be applied to faiths other than Protestant Christianity. It is used to describe strict adherance to beliefs and literal scriptures, but the definition seems to be morphing and becoming more broad. Look in the dictionary, and you will see the definition of the 5 fundamental Christian doctrines, but listen to the media and you will hear the word used in many ways. Wikipedia discusses these changes of the meaning on its page about Fundamentalism. Bible literalism was basic in the beginning of Christian Fundamentalism, but apparently because some people now who call themselves Fundamentalists don't always believe in bible literalism, the word needs to be re-defined.