Fundamentalism

[jmothecat]

It seems to me that Fundamentalist Christianity is giving normal Christianity a bad name. Am I correct in this thought?

 

[Calminian]

It seems to me that Fundamentalist Christianity is giving normal Christianity a bad name. Am I correct in this thought?

Fundamentalists are normal christians. Unless you are defining normal as liberal. Jesus was a fundamentalist. I think you're getting confused over terms.

 

[izarya]

I read a quote that said, "Fundamentalism is for Christianity, what paint-by-numbers is for art."
I agree with this to some extent. Jesus, though he was a fundamentalist in a deeper sense, was also about change and progression.
Not change as in abandonment of tradition per se, but change pertaining to the way we perceive what God wants, who he is, and what glorifies Him.

 

[039]

I think it's hypocritical Christians that refuse to look at themselves critically that give Christianity a bad name, regardless of how fundamental or not they may be.

 

[039]

Hitler was a catholic, but not a christian. =3 I think he was getting at that Hitler used social darwinism and racial purity to justify the ayrian race.

And I agree! It's usually the most infamous ones that show out of the group the most, and that's unfortunate.

 

[ebia]

I'm not sure it's for Christians to answer the question. It's the views of those looking from the outside in that determine who, if any, are giving something a bad name.

 

[jmothecat]

Thanks for your replies. By Fundamentalist, i mean the original Fundamentalist belief. During the time of Darwins theory becoming popular, some people created the fundamentals, which where (I believe) ten beliefs that they believed where fundamental to Christianity.

Those beliefs described the literal enterpritation of the Bible, rather than the meaningful enterpratation.

What im suggesting is that most Athiests and Agnostics believe that Christianity is essentially the literal belief in the Bible, rather than a meaningful religion, that gives a moral code, and a relationship with God to it's followers.

I just wanted to see your thoughts, and i believe i got a good assesment of them, thanks again. God bless.

 

[prophecystudent]

My definition of "fundamental Christianity" is those who believe and try to follow the examples set forth in the book of Acts, along with doing our best to follow what Christ taught in the gospels.

Perhaps the issue is whether as Christians we should "get back to basics".

I was recently attending what was scheduled to be a 5 week seminar on prophecy. The first week was fun and interesting. I did note a couple of examples where the speaker took what I felt were cheap shots at Evangelicals.

Then, the last night I attended he proceeded to inform the audience that the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel at the beginning of the tribulation period was false. That got my attention.

He then went on to "prove his point" by quoting scripture. His point was that the covenant mentioned in Revelation was really between Christ and Israel. I was shocked in the extreme and when I got home I read the entire passage he used as evidence. He left of some very important stuff that made it PERFECTLY CLEAR that the covenant in question had to be between Antichrist and Israel.

I decided that I need not go through the rest of the seminar. To further convince me, I asked the pastor who was sponsoring the seminar to which denomination the speaker belonged. He wouldn't answer and suggested I ask the speaker.

That was when I decided to leave and forego the balance.

There is another thread that addresses taking bible verses out of context, and this guy really does that, to the detriment of anyone who believes him.

Fred

 

[Adstar]

It seems to me that Fundamentalist Christianity is giving normal Christianity a bad name. Am I correct in this thought?

Here is a word that means different things to different people. fundamentalism is simply a tag that is applied to something one fears or disagrees with. Kind of like the Word "cult".

So what is fundamentalism to you jmothecat?


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Adstar]

Thanks for your replies. By Fundamentalist, i mean the original Fundamentalist belief. During the time of Darwins theory becoming popular, some people created the fundamentals, which where (I believe) ten beliefs that they believed where fundamental to Christianity.

Those beliefs described the literal enterpritation of the Bible, rather than the meaningful enterpratation.

What im suggesting is that most Athiests and Agnostics believe that Christianity is essentially the literal belief in the Bible, rather than a meaningful religion, that gives a moral code, and a relationship with God to it's followers.

I just wanted to see your thoughts, and i believe i got a good assesment of them, thanks again. God bless.

What are these 10 beliefs??? I would like to see them if i could.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Calminian]

Thanks for your replies. By Fundamentalist, i mean the original Fundamentalist belief. During the time of Darwins theory becoming popular, some people created the fundamentals, which where (I believe) ten beliefs that they believed where fundamental to Christianity.

Those beliefs described the literal enterpritation of the Bible, rather than the meaningful enterpratation.

What im suggesting is that most Athiests and Agnostics believe that Christianity is essentially the literal belief in the Bible, rather than a meaningful religion, that gives a moral code, and a relationship with God to it's followers.

I just wanted to see your thoughts, and i believe i got a good assesment of them, thanks again. God bless.

From this definition, Jesus himself would have been a fundamentalist. I think you're still confused on literalism, though. Fundamentalists believe the Bible should be interpreted exegetically rather than eisegetically. That is to say, fundamentalists believe the text itself reveals what is to be read literally and what is not. Non-fundamentalists will tend to force their own ideas on the Bible. If it appears to them to be too harsh, they will then allegorize that particular portion. Fundamentalists OTOH allow the Bible to shape their thinking and opinions. But it really has nothing to do with literalism vs. non-literalism. The Bible is filled with figurative language.

 

[jmothecat]

Here is a word that means different things to different people. fundamentalism is simply a tag that is applied to something one fears or disagrees with. Kind of like the Word "cult".

So what is fundamentalism to you jmothecat?


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

To me, the word 'fundamentalism' means taking a belief to it's extreme, and rejecting all other thoughts, that may disagree slightly with that persons fundamental belief.

For example, someone who believes totally in science, and refuses to alow the possablitily of Gods existance in my mind is a fundamentalist. As that person is taking a beleif, and rejecting everything else. Alternatively someone who takes a literal interpratation of the Bible, and believes the world is 6000 years old, created literally by God in 7 days and beleives in fixety of species while totally rejecting the idea of evolution is in my mind also a fundamentalist. Muslims fundamentalism is very well known right now, due to the terrorist attacks by groups such as Al Quida (sorry if i spelt that wrong).

I personally don't like mixing religion with science, and i believe the fundamental idea of fundamentalism is trying to answer everything with either science or religion, when I believe both science and religion are equilly important.

I hope you understand what i mean, but i fear you wont, as i find it hard to articulate exactly what i mean.

Thanks again for your replies, im finding them very interesting, and feel they are giving me a new insight into Christianity as a whole.

 

[Adstar]

To me, the word 'fundamentalism' means taking a belief to it's extreme, and rejecting all other thoughts, that may disagree slightly with that persons fundamental belief.

For example, someone who believes totally in science, and refuses to alow the possablitily of Gods existance in my mind is a fundamentalist. As that person is taking a beleif, and rejecting everything else. Alternatively someone who takes a literal interpratation of the Bible, and believes the world is 6000 years old, created literally by God in 7 days and beleives in fixety of species while totally rejecting the idea of evolution is in my mind also a fundamentalist. Muslims fundamentalism is very well known right now, due to the terrorist attacks by groups such as Al Quida (sorry if i spelt that wrong).

I personally don't like mixing religion with science, and i believe the fundamental idea of fundamentalism is trying to answer everything with either science or religion, when I believe both science and religion are equilly important.

I hope you understand what i mean, but i fear you wont, as i find it hard to articulate exactly what i mean.

Thanks again for your replies, im finding them very interesting, and feel they are giving me a new insight into Christianity as a whole.

Ok there are some positions that a Christian must take that are fundamentalist in the way you deem fundamentalism. A Christian must believe that believing Jesus is the Key to eternal salvation with God, a Christian must reject any belief that runs counter to this belief, No compromise is possible.

So in some areas, (what i would call core positions of the Christian faith ) where Christians must take have a fundamentalist stance.

In other areas ( what i would call disputable matters) Christians do hold varied views but still can call one another brothers in faith because division should never happen over an issue that is not central to the Gospel Message of Jesus.

Now some Christians include a lot of beliefs in their core positions. While others have a very small number of beliefs in their core positions. Of course God knows what positions should be fundamental and what positions should be of a disputable matter and those who He gives wisdom to know where to remain uncompromising and staunch and where to leave it up to the conscience of the individual.

So being a follower of the Messiah Jesus necessarily includes areas where we must be fundamentalist in our stand, while in other areas we can agree that it is not clear and we allow each person to follow their consciences towards God. We await the resurrection to be informed about these disputable matters.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[s_gunter]

Thread ReOpened.

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[Adoniram]

To me, the word 'fundamentalism' means taking a belief to it's extreme, and rejecting all other thoughts, that may disagree slightly with that persons fundamental belief.

I consider myself to be fundamental, but certainly not extreme. I don't threaten to pound someone's head in if they don't come around to my way of thinking, like the Muslim fundamentalists do. I don't look down on someone because they believe in evolution. I do, however, look with wonder at them, amazed that they find faith a theory that is so full of holes. I have a pretty good understanding of it and can reject it on it's own lack of merit. My Christian faith doesn't even enter into the equation. I don't look down on atheists either, and though I do feel sorry for them, everyone is and will be responsible for their own choices.

As a fundamentalist, I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Unchanging, as valid today as it was yesterday for those who understand it correctly, and I say that that way because there are many (even professing Christians) who are not spiritually discerning of the Scriptures.

As a fundamentalist, I am not willing to compromise my beliefs to suit current trends in society. The Bible says that homosexuality is wrong, therefore I will not condone it. That doesn't mean that I'm goinna beat my gay acquaintances over the head with a stick, but I don't shy away from telling them the Bible says it's wrong either. The Bible holds life to be sacred and cherished, therefore I oppose unrestricted abortion.

As a fundamentalist, I know that the practise of religion was a principle issue in the founding of our country and many of our laws derive from Biblical principles. Therefore I think Biblical principles should be actively engaged in our governmental business. The Bill of Rights guarentees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. That doesn't mean that the government has the right to force any particular religion on people, but neither should it mean that the role of God in the foundation of this nation be ignored. Biblical principles can be followed when enacting legislation to the betterment of all.

These are a few of the national issues that most fundamentals support. Does that make us extremists? Not in the least. It simply means our value system is more stringent.