If being a fundamentalist means you take everything back to the roots of the beleif then why is that so hated and feared? Is it so bad to find absolute truth in something rather than believing all truth to be relative. If you don't believe in the fundamentals of something how can you really believe in it at all?
2006-08-22 05:45:27 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think it is partly the secular media that have given "fundamentalism" a bad name. A lot of them don't even know what the word means. The use of the word "fundamentalist" to describe certain Muslims is a case in point. Fundamentalism is a school of thought within Christianity, not relevant to Islam. Then again, some people who call themselves fundamentalist seem very hostile to other Christians, and this creates bad feeling that shouldn't exist. Of course, the anti-Christian types are glad to take advantage of this. Most fundamentalists work very hard to be good people and to honor God.
2006-08-22 06:04:14 · answer #1 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fundamentalists become fundamentalists because they can't deal with the here and now. In thinking that the purity of their religion has been somehow hijacked in modern society it usually isn't enough to simply choose to live by the standards they harken back to. As evidenced by the fundies in this country they fervently wish for a theocracy to replace the democratic republic, and by the fundamentalist Muslims who pervert their own religion into an excuse for hate and murder. Extremism in any religion promotes isolation and judgmental ideology. The fundamentals of any religion are still there in the modern setting. Added to that are tenets and philosophies in order to relate to the realities of current society. If you have studied history at all you have seen that extremism (which comes from strict fundamentalism) has caused war time and time again and millions have died at the hands of fundamentalist religious extremists. There are some sects who avoid this - the Amish for instance - but it is rare.
2006-08-22 06:16:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no problems with fundamentalists who live and let live.
It's not exactly the fundamentalism that's the problem, it's a willingness to directly or indirectly harm others based solely on an unsubstantiable belief. A person who believes every word in the Koran, Torah, or Bible, but who is unwilling to forcibly mandate their views on others, is a fundamentalist I can get along with just fine.
Unfortunately, the vocal minority of religionists regularly advocate policy, or tacitly approve actions, which really are harmful to others. Whether this is old-fashioned bigotry towards other races, religions, women, and homosexuals, or the suppression of science and potential medical advancement to look more pious towards a religious political base, these actions cause tremendous harm.
Just as unfortunately, the silent majority of religionists rarely aid in taking this vocal minority to task for their over-zealousness.
2006-08-22 06:04:28 · answer #3 · answered by ouini 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im going to present myself as a target and say "yes" it is automatically a bad thing.
Here's why I say that: Most fundamentalists regard their own holy writings as final and perfect in even the most minute detail. Most "holy writings" were struck millenia ago amongst cultures that were, at the time, uncaring of women or of anyone with a significant "difference".
Fundamentalists, almost exclusively, feel they have the right to be rude, uncaring and even violent to specific "others" mentioned in their "holy writings".
They are hated and feared for spreading hate and fear.
These are generalizations of course. A fundamentalist of the goddess Venus would be quite charming and accepting but the fundamentalists OF THIS TIME..... are not.
2006-08-22 06:50:45 · answer #4 · answered by Alexander Shannon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not thinking for yourself is the BAD thing. To passively accept inherited spiritual "truths" is itself immoral. One must always question.
If one believes in a Last Judgment, Fundamentalists might be surprised to find the Creator angry that they did not use the mind they were given to come to personal truths.
There is no moral merit whatsoever in believing something just because you are told you must.
2006-08-22 06:00:11 · answer #5 · answered by Richard K 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, in both Christianity and Islam, the "roots of the belief" have a great deal to do with subjugating women and either killing or denying the rights of people of other races, other religions, and other sexual orientations. It's like closing your mind to everything that isn't your belief, so it's either good and godly, or bad, and must be destroyed.
2006-08-22 05:58:33 · answer #6 · answered by Girl Wonder 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes but only religion allows fundamentalists islam. the other religion do not like that idea
2006-08-22 05:56:50 · answer #7 · answered by WEEDG 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they're close minded and sure that they're right. End of discussion, no room for compromise, difference of opinion, etc.
2006-08-22 05:56:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
adhering to the fundamentals is a gd thing surely. hang on with your molar teeth!
2006-08-22 05:52:55 · answer #9 · answered by abdulaziiz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no
2006-08-22 05:53:01 · answer #10 · answered by baddrose268 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋