What makes a Christian a fundamentalist?

Hank77

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@Butterfly99 @brinny

I am a fundamentalist. I believe that the Bible is God' Word, literally. That the original autographs were inspired by God and inerrant (cannot be wrong, absolute truth).
1. (Christianity) (esp among certain Protestant sects) the belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true

I am also a fundamentalist in my political view of the Bill of Rights of the US of America.
3. strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fundamentalist

As we can see the definition of fundamentalist is very simple and does not include most all of what has been said in this thread about what a fundamentalist is. They would be assigning to me beliefs that I do not share with some other fundamentalist.
 
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ToBeLoved

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@Butterfly99 @brinny

I am a fundamentalist. I believe that the Bible is God' Word, literally. That the original autographs were inspired by God and inerrant (cannot be wrong, absolute truth).
1. (Christianity) (esp among certain Protestant sects) the belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true

I am also a fundamentalist in my political view of the Bill of Rights of the US of America.
3. strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fundamentalist

As we can see the definition of fundamentalist is very simple and does not include most all of what has been said in this thread about what a fundamentalist is. They would be assigning to me beliefs that I do not share with some other fundamentalist.
That dictionary definition I feel does not give any answers besides saying that you are very Biblical.

Since you see yourself as a Fundamentalist, what do you see the difference being between Conservative Christians and Fundamentalist Christians?

I think that Conservative Christians also believe that the Word of God is also divinely inspired and therefore true.
 
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Hank77

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Since you see yourself as a Fundamentalist, what do you see the difference being between Conservative Christians and Fundamentalist Christians?
Conservative Christian is mainly a term used in the US for politically right-wing Christians. They have conservative political views when it comes to laws that are made and how tax money should be spent. They are socially conservative.
I think that Conservative Christians also believe that the Word of God is also divinely inspired and therefore true.
I don't know how all Conservative Christians view God's Word although I suspect most have a fundamentalist view of the scriptures. It's not an either/or.
One could be a conservative Fundamentalist, a liberal Fundamentalist, or somewhere in between. There are scriptures in the Bible that support either social view. ie, no work, no eat and feed the poor among you.
 
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1watchman

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It seems that so-called "conservatism" is more a mixing of the Gospel message of salvation and society's ways of living; and the so-called "fundamentalism" tends to seek to conform much to a stricter line of conformity to the Bible message literally. Both can be very extreme --quite loose or tight; depending on how each chooses to live. Just a thought!
 
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Aelred of Rievaulx

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I would tend to see today's fundamentalism as the continuation of the particular anti-modernist trend from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It sadly exists in my own Catholicism also, those who still harken towards the Vatican I days and who accept the Syllabus of Errors, yet it is generally an American Protestant phenomenon.
 
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Butterfly99

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@Butterfly99 @brinny

I am a fundamentalist. I believe that the Bible is God' Word, literally. That the original autographs were inspired by God and inerrant (cannot be wrong, absolute truth).
1. (Christianity) (esp among certain Protestant sects) the belief that every word of the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore true

I am also a fundamentalist in my political view of the Bill of Rights of the US of America.
3. strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fundamentalist

As we can see the definition of fundamentalist is very simple and does not include most all of what has been said in this thread about what a fundamentalist is. They would be assigning to me beliefs that I do not share with some other fundamentalist.

It's kinda confusing still tbh cause there's some people who say that believing the Bible literally means this & believing the literally means that. You've done your part to help so that was nice of you. Thanks
 
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Job8

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Just trying to understand the different terms used on sections here. :)
To answer your question -- a desire for the truth makes a Christian a fundamentalist. You could say "Biblicist" if you wish, but the label is not the key. All Christians who believe that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters (doctrine or practice) are fundamentalists, whether they like it or not.

The theological and political liberals use "fundamentalism" in a pejorative manner, and some go so far as to put Radical Islamists on the same footing as Christian fundamentalists. That is simply to intimidate those who reject liberalism in all its forms. Theological liberalism is a mild term for "apostasy". And political liberalism is merely a veneer for socialism and Marxism.
 
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farout

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Conservative Christian is mainly a term used in the US for politically right-wing Christians. They have conservative political views when it comes to laws that are made and how tax money should be spent. They are socially conservative.

I don't know how all Conservative Christians view God's Word although I suspect most have a fundamentalist view of the scriptures. It's not an either/or.
One could be a conservative Fundamentalist, a liberal Fundamentalist, or somewhere in between. There are scriptures in the Bible that support either social view. ie, no work, no eat and feed the poor among you.


Just to add a few cents here, ok? I hope you said yes. I have noticed that some very strict Fundamentalist would believe that the only true Word of God is the King James version of the Bible. They are adamant that any other translation is totally unacceptable and not the real Word of God. The fact that the KJV has been revised at least 7 times does not alter their opinion. That is what said in a televised broadcast. I can respect that as long as tempers are controlled.
Me personally I consider that I am fundamental in my theology, and very conservative in the application of the Word to my life and belief in the Bible. I too believe the Bible in the original autographs were without error and totally accurate in every detail. I do not believe every Bible translated today is without errors. For instance the TNIV is gender nutral, and a poor translation. The New World Translation is a distorted text and should be burned at every opportunity to prevent people from believing a lie. The most literal Bibles are the NASB and the ESV. These are the best on the market today. There are some other very good Bibles, but caution is the order of the day.
So what makes me a Fundamentalist or a Conservative can someone tell me what is the litmus test for such titles?
 
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Job8

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The fact that the KJV has been revised at least 7 times does not alter their opinion.
There's a huge difference between "revised" and "updated". Please purchase a reprint of the original KJV and check it out for yourself. The issue goes far deeper with modern versions. Please note below that other than spelling updates (identified) they are exactly the same. So what you have heard is anti-KJV propaganda, which will also tell you that the KJV is inferior to the modern versions. Don't believe it.

ORIGINAL KJV 1611 (John 3:1-10)
1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of þe Iewes:

2 The same came to
Iesus by night, and said vnto him, Rabbi, wee know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can doe these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3
Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne againe, he cannot see the kingdome of God.

4 Nicodemus saith
vnto him, How can a man be borne when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe, and be borne?

5
Iesus answered, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God.

6 That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is borne of the spirit, is spirit.

7
Marueile not that I saide vnto thee, Ye must be borne againe.

8 The
winde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tel whence it commeth, and whither it goeth: So is euery one that is borne of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered, and said
vnto him, How can these things be?

10
Iesus answered, and saide vnto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

STANDARD KJV

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

 
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farout

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There's a huge difference between "revised" and "updated". Please purchase a reprint of the original KJV and check it out for yourself. The issue goes far deeper with modern versions. Please note below that other than spelling updates (identified) they are exactly the same. So what you have heard is anti-KJV propaganda, which will also tell you that the KJV is inferior to the modern versions. Don't believe it.

ORIGINAL KJV 1611 (John 3:1-10)
1. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of þe Iewes:

2 The same came to
Iesus by night, and said vnto him, Rabbi, wee know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can doe these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3
Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne againe, he cannot see the kingdome of God.

4 Nicodemus saith
vnto him, How can a man be borne when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe, and be borne?

5
Iesus answered, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God.

6 That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is borne of the spirit, is spirit.

7
Marueile not that I saide vnto thee, Ye must be borne againe.

8 The
winde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tel whence it commeth, and whither it goeth: So is euery one that is borne of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered, and said
vnto him, How can these things be?

10
Iesus answered, and saide vnto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

STANDARD KJV

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

The 1611 and others that followed had the Apocrypha. One might think it should still be there?
 
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Job8

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The 1611 and others that followed had the Apocrypha. One might think it should still be there?
Give me a break. Did you read the translators comments regarding the Apocrypha? And it has been a long time since the Apocrypha was found in the KJV. More red herrings to cause people to avoid looking at the real issues which are extremely serious -- hundreds of words, whole verses, and whole passages removed from the Bible or brought under suspicion for no sound reason.
 
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Job8

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The King James that everyone uses is actually the 1769 edition! :)
It does not matter. I have demonstrated clearly that THERE WAS NO REVISION. You could take a dozen passages randomly and confirm that for yourself.

On the other hand, every modern version has been a revision of a revision, following which the revised versions have been further revised again and again. What Christians should really be asking themselves "What is the real motive and the real agenda behind all these revisions and a multitude of modern bibles?"
 
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faroukfarouk

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It does not matter. I have demonstrated clearly that THERE WAS NO REVISION. You could take a dozen passages randomly and confirm that for yourself.

On the other hand, every modern version has been a revision of a revision, following which the revised versions have been further revised again and again. What Christians should really be asking themselves "What is the real motive and the real agenda behind all these revisions and a multitude of modern bibles?"
Actually, between 1611 and 1769 there were various revisions: 1624, 1638, 1762 and 1769.
 
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Job8

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Actually, between 1611 and 1769 there were various revisions: 1624, 1638, 1762 and 1769.
These did not change the basic text. That's what I am trying to get across. If you examine what I posted above, that is proof enough. Updating and revising are not the same.
 
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faroukfarouk

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These did not change the basic text. That's what I am trying to get across. If you examine what I posted above, that is proof enough. Updating and revising are not the same.
Not sure I understand, but maybe I can't contribute too much more, anyway. Blessings.
 
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Rhamiel

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did you read the sticky on this forum?
the statement of faith
"

  1. Maintains an immovable allegiance to the inerrant, infallible, and verbally Inspired Bible;
  2. Believes whatever the Bible says is so;
  3. Judges all things by the Bible, and is judged only by the Bible, aka - "Sola Scriptura";
  4. Affirms the foundational truths of the historic Christian Faith:
    a. The doctrine of the Trinity
    b. The incarnation, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, and Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
    c. The new birth through regeneration of the Holy Spirit
    d. The resurrection of saints to life eternal
    e. The resurrection of the ungodly to final judgment and eternal death
    f. The fellowship of the saints, who are the body of Christ;
  5. Practices fidelity to that faith, and endeavors to preach it to every creature;
  6. Exposes and separates from all ecclesiastical denial of that Faith, compromise with error, and apostasy from the Truth; and
  7. Earnestly contends for the Faith once delivered.
  8. Therefore, Fundamentalism is a militant orthodoxy with a soulwinning zeal. While Fundamentalists may differ on certain interpretations of Scripture, we join in unity of heart and common purpose for the defense of the Faith and the preaching of the Gospel, without compromise or division."
http://www.christianforums.com/threads/fundamentalist-christians-statement-of-purpose.7396152/
 
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Dave-W

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i dunno......
does it mean taking the Bible at its Word?
I used to think that but found a couple of extra items. This is from a fundamentalist Baptist website:

A Fundamentalist Baptist is also a Fundamental Baptist, which means that he or she believes in the "fundamental truths" of Christianity which were explained in "The Fundamentals", (a series of booklets from the early nineteen hundreds).

A Fundamentalist Baptist however, has two additional characteristics beyond that of a Fundamental Baptist. The first of these characteristics is "Biblical Separation" and the second of these is "Christian Militancy".


"Biblical Separation is the Bible's clear command that true Christians are to remain separate from all personal, social, and ecclesiastical relationships with those who call themselves Christians, but want to live a life of sin. Fundamentalist Baptists therefore remain separate from apostate Protestantism ....

The second characteristic of Fundamentalist Baptists which sets them apart from New Evangelicals is their Christian Militancy. Such "Christian Militancy" does not at all mean violence or the shedding of blood. In fact, Fundamentalist Baptists refuse to be violent in a world that so often loves to see violence and bloodshed. .....

"Christian Militancy" refers to the idea shared by all true Fundamentalist Baptists that "Jesus and the Bible come first." All other authority in the life of a true Fundamentalist Baptist Christian must therefore have a lower priority to the claims of Jesus and the Bible.

On a practical side, this means that if (God forbid!) a Fundamentalist Baptist pastor should attempt to force a member of his congregation to commit a sin against Jesus or the Bible, then Jesus and the Bible must always come first. (Such a genuine Fundamentalist Baptist church member would of course obey Jesus and the Bible and so refuse to commit such a sin.)

Furthermore, the government cannot compel a Fundamentalist Baptist to commit any sin. An example of such a sin would be for a government official to order a Fundamentalist Baptist to not spank his or her child. Jesus and the Bible must come first to the Fundamentalist Baptist. Also, a family member cannot make a Fundamentalist Baptist miss church on Sunday, go to Las Vegas, or force a parent to allow his or her child to dance, or to commit any other abominable sin. Once again, Jesus and the Bible must always come first to a Fundamentalist Baptist. All other authority in life must always come after Jesus and the Bible to a true Fundamentalist Baptist.


http://www.fundamentalistbaptist.com/
 
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