Why would anyone want to be a Christian fundamentalist?

Question

They have so many hangups (especially about sex) and they're so uptight about everything! It doesn't look like they have any fun!

Answer 1

Fundamentalism happens to two types of people I think. The first group are those who see the world in black and white and just can't deal with shades of gray. Under the right circumstances, they can flop back and forth between atheism and fundamentalism.

The second type are those who attempt to inject some modicum of reason into faith and come to realize they can't really know anything about god's will unless they start with the assumption that {X} is of divine origin. These are the ones you hear talking about slippery slopes.

Among Protestants, that {X} is the Bible. Among Muslims, it's the Qu'ran, among Catholics, it's the church itself.

I don't think anyone sets out to become a fundamentalist, I think they just end up there.

Answer 2

For the free coffee!

Seriously though, I'm not sure I'm a all-out fundamentalist but many things that people think take away your fun can actually make your life so much better.

Sex, for example. Having a relationship as God fleshes it out in the Bible is much more fulfilling in the long run than, say, having one night stands. It's not that you can't have great fun in the bedroom, you just have to do it in a committed monogomous (marriage) relationship. Many of the problems regarding divorce, depression, disease, etc. are a result of not following His guidlelines on issues like sex.

His rules are to make our lives better, not worse or more boring.

Answer 3

I don't know. I am Catholic. I'm not uptight. I just follow my faith. Everyone needs rules to live by. Even you live by certain standards or rules. Doing sinful things doesn't make a person happy. It is a slavery, an addiction. The fun last for a moment or two and then diminishes and then we keep having to do it again in order to feel a high. Personally I've never met a person who is honestly happy and lives a sinful life. There is always an undercurrent of unhappiness. Sometimes those persons can't see it for themselves because they just keep pushing it away in their minds, determined to convince themselves that they are really happy.

Answer 4

I am a Christian Fundamentalist, and it's a shame you feel that way.

To make a lengthy point very short, sin is the transgression of God's laws. God's laws are put in place to keep mankind safe and healthy (akin to a parent's rules to keep the kids safe and healthy). Break God's laws, you sin. You sin, you suffer the effects of sin (ie STDs from immoral sex, hurting other people and thereby suffer guilt, heartbreak, stress, obsessions/addictions from making temporal things too important, etc. all of which leads to death, in the end).

Now, I don't know about you, but I want to live to see my great grandchildren. Because I have sinned, I will one day die. But I want to push that death far away from me as possible, so I'm not gonna sin. On top of that, Hell is reserved for those who never apologized to God for breaking his Laws (and/or never meant it, and/or never tried to change) [aka repent of their sins].

Now, Hell is a horrid place. It's full of darkness, crying, pain, smoke, worms gnawing at your flesh, and fires frying your skin. The pain, both the physical and mental, is so bad, the only sound heard is that of misery. It's likened to a furnace where the flames never die. Dying by having a heavy stone tied to your neck, and then drowning in a lake is a far better fate. Most people wouldn't sell either of their eyes for any amount of money, yet, it's written that it'd be better to pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin, than to face hell with two perfect eyes.

Now, I have led a life of sin in the past, and I live the life of Christ now. And I'll tell you what, I have *FAR* more fun now, designing video games, creating my own jewelry, getting piercings and tattoos, helping out those in need, teaching people, and enjoying life with a sober mind, than I ever did pirating games, stealing jewelry, taunting those different from me, taking advantage of those in want or need, hating people, and drifting through life in an alcoholic and pot-induced haze.

In the end, 120 years (pft, if that... so many I've known who lived lives as I did barely made it to 40, some not even 25, a couple not even 16) of self-destructive fun and an eternity in hell is NOT worth exchanging for 120 years of constructive fun and an eternity in heaven.

Answer 5

I cobnsider myself a fundamentalist and I believe the answer to your question should be because I care more about the next life then this one. A thousand years is like a day to God. I consider how I live infinity to be more important then my life here on earth which is like a blink of an eye.

Answer 6

Why would anyone want to be a Christian, never the less, a Fundamentalist Christian? Its a dying religion that's being killed off by the FundaMENTAList.

Answer 7

I'm not a "fundamentalist" but I believe the Bible is true and follow it to the best of my ability. And for the sixty years or so that I live "without any fun", I'll be rewarded in Heaven for eternity. Sounds like a good trade to me.

Answer 8

I am a christian, though not a fundamentalist. However, fundamentalism was formed in response to everyone claiming religion yet not living it at all. It was not formed to be fun, it was formed so people get get to know Jesus and grow as Christians with confounding variables about what is wrong or right (because EVERYTHING is wrong!)

Answer 9

Never underestimate the lure of belonging to a group that knows the "absolute truth." It gives you a huge sense of superiority that you know what's right and that everyone who doesn't believe the things you do is going to pay a huge price later on.

I know, I grew up in what would be considered a fundamentalist church. It wasn't until college that I started thinking for myself.

Answer 10

I'm not 100% sure how you define 'fundamentalist,' but as for Christian, I am one because it's a better life, now and in eternity.