What makes you conservative ? why are you not a fundamentalist ?

JM

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Fundamentalism morphed into a worldview that includes a false literalism or a literalism that avoids literary genres. Modern Fundamentalism is semi-gnostic in the way it disdains alcohol, drinking, the physical body, etc. and should be rejected.

Yours in the Lord,

jm
 
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Albion

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The two simply are different concepts. A conservative values that which has proven itself. A conservative is a traditionalist while not closing off the possibility of change; but he doesn't favor rash change that's based upon a theory without regard for past experience. There are conservatives in just about every denomination.

A fundamentalist is part of an interchurch movement that believes in Christians working together to uphold the basic doctrines of the Christian religion against liberal theology, while not demanding that everyone agree on the NON-essential doctrines that divide the different Christian churches.

They're similar in some ways, but these are not interchangeable terms.
 
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1watchman

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Here is another view: Conservative actually speaks of being less ceremonial, ritualistic, etc. (somewhere between the High Church sects and "fundamentalism"; and I see fundamentalism as very independent and seeking to each have their own private interpretations. I believe God would be pleased to have us all be "scriptural", as "one body in Christ", which is a rarity in christendom today. I think the site at biblecounsel.net has got it about right! Look up always, for God cares always!
 
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Shodan

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I am an American conservative, which for me is a political position including
  • Individual rights
  • Personal responsibility
  • Limited government
  • Free markets
It has almost nothing to do with fundamentalism. I am not a fundamentalist because I have been persuaded by the evidence that Genesis and some of the other parts of the Bible are not to be interpreted literally.

Regards,
Shodan
 
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Albion

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Here is another view: Conservative actually speaks of being less ceremonial, ritualistic, etc. (somewhere between the High Church sects and "fundamentalism"
I don't see any reason for coming to that conclusion. It's not as though ritual is some kind of innovation; it is very historic, like it or not, so to favor it because you feel that it is worth retaining IS to be conservative.

and I see fundamentalism as very independent and seeking to each have their own private interpretations.
The word has come to mean dozens of different things, depending upon who's speaking. However, the word originally meant (and still does, if you check the Statement of Belief here on CF) an uncompromising defense of Christian basics that just about all denominations, whether Catholic or Protestant, would hold as essential in the face of religious liberalism.
 
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1watchman

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I don't see any reason for coming to that conclusion. It's not as though ritual is some kind of innovation; it is very historic, like it or not, so to favor it because you feel that it is worth retaining IS to be conservative.

Well, ritual is not part of the NT faith (so IS in fact an "innovation"), and is only a carry-over by some sects from the RC religion ---the Church should hold to the pattern God gives us in this dispensation (age); and "historic" as you mentioned as ref. to Christianity, should only mean as God shows the Church, not of the OT ---right?

The word has come to mean dozens of different things, depending upon who's speaking. However, the word originally meant (and still does, if you check the Statement of Belief here on CF) an uncompromising defense of Christian basics that just about all denominations, whether Catholic or Protestant, would hold as essential in the face of religious liberalism.
I suppose "religious liberalism" as you say is the key difference; also, "Christian basics" must only be Bible-only to be conforming to God's mind ---right? When we speak of "fundamentalism" it is a relative term, and usually means to most people concerning Christian testimony, as a grouping of professing Christians who look keenly at every Bible verse, and that for their particular application, as I mentioned originally. That mostly means various uses of fundamentalism in the different sects. Just my understanding here!

 
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Albion

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Ritual has always been a part of worship in both the Hebrew and Christian religions, so any suggestion that ritual itself is an "innovation" is a non-starter as an argument. And the idea that the Roman Catholic Church invented ritual is even worse!

If that's the basis of your argument about what's conservative in religion, I rather suspect that you are thinking of something other than "ritual." As a matter of fact, there are relatively few Protestant worship services that could be said to be without their respective rituals.

Of course there are a number of other factors that should go into any defintion of both "conservative" and "fundamentalistic."
 
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Albion

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Not to disagree with you, but the two words really define themselves.

A "CONSERVative" in either religion or politics wants to conserve or perpetuate what is the best of the past, that which has proven itself, while not going in for any untested innovations. A "FUNDAMENTAList" in religion wants to make common cause with every other Christian who agrees on the essentials/basics/fundamentals of the faith that have been under attack from theological liberals over the past century or so, foregoing fights over the non-essentials that divide us into different denominations.

:)
 
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Knee V

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The statements of purpose of the two groups make it clear what each one (at least here at CF) stands for. The statement of purpose of the fundamentalist group excludes me, primarily since I do not share their stated view of what Scripture fundamentally is and why we have it.

The statement of purpose for the conservative group is worded such that I largely agree with it and nothing excludes me (although I'very been largely absent from CF for some time and haven't posted here quite a while).
 
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