Why do people sometimes use 'fundamentalist' in a negative connotation?

[HawkBlue27]

I notice a lot of the time people use the word "fundamentalist" like it's almost a bad thing. Why? Fundamentalist, to my knowledge means one believes in the fundamentals of the faith? What's wrong with that?

 

[anglozaxon]

I suppose because a lot of people associate fundametalism with terrorist fundamentalism, and religious hatred.

 

[Albion]

I notice a lot of the time people use the word "fundamentalist" like it's almost a bad thing. Why? Fundamentalist, to my knowledge means one believes in the fundamentals of the faith? What's wrong with that?

It does, but the people you're talking about are religious liberals and so don't appreciate "Bible-thumpers." All you can do is consider where the slurs are coming from and take some satisfaction from knowing that being true to the faith has made you the object of ridicule from those who aren't.

 

[SoulBap6]

Truther AU
The Militant Minority of religions is why Fundamentlist get a Bad name.
we also have this issue with Minority groups, with labels as Baptist, but
there militant actions has nothing to do with Christianity, political demeaner
So many times Fundamentlist get a reputation as Liberal terrorist, when in actuality
they are Conservative. You have your percentages in all groups. Fundamentalist believe in the fundamentals of the Bible and the belief system. Which God put into Place, the Bad name seems to comes with being fundamentally sound in the Doctrine of Jesus christ.

 

[WannaWitness]

I still say that too many people confuse a legalist with a fundamentalist. I mean, there can be legalists within the realm of fundamentalism, but it is just not true to think that all fundamentalists are legalists.

Now, I consider myself to be a fundamentalist, in that I take the entire Word of God for what it is, and have what I believe to be reasonable standards based on my understanding of the Scripture, and having a set of standards doesn't mean one is a legalist. What I am not, however, is the stereotypical fundamentalist that people use as an "illustration" to invalidate the whole group of us.

The way I see it, fundamentalists can be found in all Christian denominations, each varying in the way of personal convictions, but with one main thing in common, and that is that they follow the Lord the best way they know how using the Bible as a basic guideline. That's what true fundamentalism is to me, and if that's the case, then there isn't a thing wrong with that!

 

[cubanito]

I still say that too many people confuse a legalist with a fundamentalist. I mean, there can be legalists within the realm of fundamentalism, but it is just not true to think that all fundamentalists are legalists.

Now, I consider myself to be a fundamentalist, in that I take the entire Word of God for what it is, and have what I believe to be reasonable standards based on my understanding of the Scripture, and having a set of standards doesn't mean one is a legalist. What I am not, however, is the stereotypical fundamentalist that people use as an "illustration" to invalidate the whole group of us.

The way I see it, fundamentalists can be found in all Christian denominations, each varying in the way of personal convictions, but with one main thing in common, and that is that they follow the Lord the best way they know how using the Bible as a basic guideline. That's what true fundamentalism is to me, and if that's the case, then there isn't a thing wrong with that!

Well, almost, fundamentalists do not just take the Bible as their "basic guideline", but as the inerrant word of God from Gen 1 onwards.

As to the "fundamentalist terrorists", if by that "fundamentalist Muslim terrorists" are meant, they are in fact NOT fundamentalists. They cite their various traditions (Hadith, not all groups follow the same Hadith) and IGNORE the Koran when it says to not war on the noncombatants. Blowing up the Pentagon or other Govt building MIGHT pass the Koranic words, but the Towers were clearly a non-combatant target, as are most of the random attacks on markets.

Like SO MANY words, the true meaning of "fundamentalist" has little or nothing to do with what the word originally meant. A theoretical mathematician is a fundamentalist mathematician, as opposed to one concerned with applied mathematics. Ditto a theoretical physicist or a stock market analyst who concentrates on the fundamentals of a company, as opposed to other strategies.

We are fundamentalists because we start out with the fundamental belief in the Bible, word for word, as best we can interpret it; and refuse to twist it to fit the lastest pseudo-scientific mythology of origins or whatever. Or you can take a historical look at the publishing of "the fundamentals" done in the 1800's? when so many seminaries became liberal.

That so many words are twisted by Satan for his lies does nor surprise.

JR

 

[WannaWitness]

Well, almost, fundamentalists do not just take the Bible as their "basic guideline", but as the inerrant word of God from Gen 1 onwards.

That's actually what I meant. "Basic" may have been the wrong choice of words on my part. What I do believe is that the entire Bible (from Genesis through Revelation) is infallible, and that God gave it to us to teach us how to live the best Christian life possible, making mistakes, but making sure we learn from them and trying not to repeat the same ones. But even among fundamentalists, opinions and convictions will differ according to how certain Scriptures stand out to people. This is why some fundamentalists are KJVO, and some are not. Some believe women should always wear dresses, while others believe that pants are okay for a woman to wear. Some think it's a sin to watch TV and movies, while others think it's okay as long as we monitor what we view. These (and a number of other issues) are a matter of conviction, and could very well be examples of what Romans 14:1 refers to (in NKJV) as "doubtful things" on which opinions will differ, even among believers.

Here is a link along those lines:

Fundamentals and secondary issues « Stray Thoughts

 

[StayGold]

Why do people use fundamentalist in a negative connotation?

Because people don't like to hear the fundamentals of Christianity. Because at it's core, Christianity is a terrifying religion for people whose entire faith is based on antinomian philosophies and the only time they spend with their Savior is the 60 minutes before the pregame show on sunday morning. American Christianity is a lawless thing, where most people accept God's grace, but never bear the fruits of a life transformed by Christ because that transformation would take them away from their idols. So they resist it and reject it either in full apostasy, or by just making Christ peripheral to the rest of their life.

 

[mandyangel]

because they hear it and think WOW, people who actually believe in something or who stand up for something, thats HARD, sounds like a lot of work... well I don't wanna do that so they must be evil haters, ya thats it! They're bad!

I'm lucky to live around people who help me with my faith because being a conservative fundamentalist young christian woman is very tough in the world these days.

 

[motherprayer]

I still say that too many people confuse a legalist with a fundamentalist. I mean, there can be legalists within the realm of fundamentalism, but it is just not true to think that all fundamentalists are legalists.

Now, I consider myself to be a fundamentalist, in that I take the entire Word of God for what it is, and have what I believe to be reasonable standards based on my understanding of the Scripture, and having a set of standards doesn't mean one is a legalist. What I am not, however, is the stereotypical fundamentalist that people use as an "illustration" to invalidate the whole group of us.

The way I see it, fundamentalists can be found in all Christian denominations, each varying in the way of personal convictions, but with one main thing in common, and that is that they follow the Lord the best way they know how using the Bible as a basic guideline. That's what true fundamentalism is to me, and if that's the case, then there isn't a thing wrong with that!

Bless you! I have been trying to figure out what defines my faith, and this is it! THANK YOU!

 

[WannaWitness]

Bless you! I have been trying to figure out what defines my faith, and this is it! THANK YOU!

 

[motherprayer]

Why all the fighting? Why though, seriously? We may disagree on minor things, but we believe one fundamental truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord! There is a way to correct that will lead to better understanding, and nastiness is NOT THAT WAY!

 

[mandyangel]

Why all the fighting? Why though, seriously? We may disagree on minor things, but we believe one fundamental truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord! There is a way to correct that will lead to better understanding, and nastiness is NOT THAT WAY!

Very well said. Take that and make it your signature because its perfect.

 

[motherprayer]

Very well said. Take that and make it your signature because its perfect.

 

[WannaWitness]

Why all the fighting? Why though, seriously? We may disagree on minor things, but we believe one fundamental truth, that Jesus Christ is Lord! There is a way to correct that will lead to better understanding, and nastiness is NOT THAT WAY!

AMEN!

Also, great idea about using that as your signature. We all can use this as a reminder. I mean, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, and even orderly debating. There just comes a time when we, as Christians, come to the point of (at the risk of overplaying the phrase) "agreeing to disagree".

 

[motherprayer]

AMEN!

Also, great idea about using that as your signature. We all can use this as a reminder. I mean, there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, and even orderly debating. There just comes a time when we, as Christians, come to the point of (at the risk of overplaying the phrase) "agreeing to disagree".

So true! I did take the idea and use it, I'm really tired of seeing my brethren attacking each other over trivial matters. I am standing in prayer for victory over this problem.

 

[WannaWitness]

So true! I did take the idea and use it, I'm really tired of seeing my brethren attacking each other over trivial matters. I am standing in prayer for victory over this problem.

That's the thing to do.

After all, we as Christians will have a whole eternity to spend together - and by then, none of the petty things we disagreed about on earth will matter anymore.

 

[motherprayer]

That's the thing to do.

After all, we as Christians will have a whole eternity to spend together - and by then, none of the petty things we disagreed about on earth will matter anymore.

Amen HALLELUJAH! It will be so amazing! We will truly be ONE, in mind AND spirit, with nothing left to divide us!

 

[Catherineanne]

I notice a lot of the time people use the word "fundamentalist" like it's almost a bad thing. Why? Fundamentalist, to my knowledge means one believes in the fundamentals of the faith? What's wrong with that?

It is difficult to answer this one in the fundamentalist part of the forum, because balanced answers might well constitute debating against such fundamentalist beliefs as the inerrancy and primacy of Scripture; what Tom Peters described so wonderfully as the Reformation exchanging a living Pope for a paper one, without sufficiently defining what is meant by authority.

You might care to ask elsewhere, therefore.

 

[Catherineanne]

I suppose because a lot of people associate fundametalism with terrorist fundamentalism, and religious hatred.

I do not think this is the case, other than in relation to Islamic fundamentalism.

Christian fundamentalists are often disparaged, but rarely in my experience because they are mistaken for terrorists.