Would you say that fundamentalism (intolerance) is a byproduct of religious freedom, or an inhibitor of it?

Question

Or is there a different correlation?

I appreciate Max Marie's critique. Please re-read the question:

Would you say that religious intolerance is a byproduct of religious freedom, or an inhibitor of it?

Answer 1

It's both. Religious freedom also means having the right to become fanatical about it. But once a group becomes fanatical they then pose a threat to the very thing that let them progress to that extreme in the first place. It's logic that no fundamentalist can ever wrap their head around, at least none that I've met. So many of them long for a theocracy, but what they'll never understand is that once open to theocracy, a government is susceptible to hostile takeover. An Evangelical theocracy, for instance, could fall to say (for sake of argument) Islamic takeover and then they'd have to read their Bibles in a closet with a flashlight.

Answer 2

Firstly, fundamentalism and intolerance are not the same thing at all, although they almost always coexist. Intolerance, obviously is an inhibitor of religious freedom--in fact, it is the only inhibitor: that is the definition of religious intolerance.

Fundamentalism refers instead to a person's beliefs when they are deeply rooted in the original meanings of their faith. Good examples of this are Bible literalists (who think everything in the Bible is the literal word of God, Adam and Eve were the first humans, and there is no evolution), Catholics who literally believe that the Pope's word is infallible, and Muslims who take the Qur'an passages about destroying nonbelievers seriously. The term "fundamentalist" is almost never used in a positive or even neutral way; fundamentalists instead tend to call themselves "conservative" or "orthodox," although this is not to be confused with the Christian Orthodox Church or Orthodox Jews and the like. Since fundamentalists tend to swallow their religion whole, they tend to hold some rather extreme and dated points of view. Almost all fundamentalists are also gnostic, meaning that they claim to "know," with absolute certainty, the truth about God and religion, and are therefore totally closed to other points of view. This is why most people believe that all fundamentalists are intolerant, but there are a scant few who are not.

Answer 3

It could be both -

an inhibitor - if the fundamentalism results in loss of other people's freedoms

a byproduct - because of the freedom, extremists are allowed to practice their beliefs

Good question. I'll be thinking about this for a while.

Answer 4

It is both. It came about because of religious freedom. But, now it is in a position that it has become an inhibitor to all who do not agree with them. George W. Bush is one of these who is pushing ''his way or else''.

Answer 5

Fundamentalism does not equal intolerance.

I'm a very old fashioned Catholic. Many Catholics would call me a fundamentalist. I'm a Secular Franciscan. It is my choice to walk closer to God than most folks.

As such, it makes me a lot more open to the people God created. With all their difference. I dig it!

Mother Theresa would also be considered fundamentalists. But she never demanded that those she served be Christian.

The Amish people who suffered a violent attack are extremely fundamentalist. They forgave their attacker and have even begun to raise funds for the widow of their attacker.

Only intolerance is intolerance.

Answer 6

I have to say that I think it is a byproduct.

I in no way support it but it is only in an atmosphere of religious freedom that you get the mutton heads who are super pissed off that people don't do things their way. In a tightly controlled state religion it is not allowed to become a threat, only in a free state can it exist and thrive.

Plus, unfortunately, people who believe in freedom of religion misinterpret to think we should all accept religions which is not true..just because you tolerate doesn't mean you have to give their crazy ideas any validity


shabbash:: wrong..flat out wrong. 1st of all Palestine stole it from the jews 1st who stole it ffrom someone else who stole it from someone else..get over it. 2ndly There are muslim countries who will execute people who convert from islam to another religion..that is intolerance...all religions are intolerant and islam+christianity are the 2 biggest intolerant religions

Answer 7

when it is kept inclusive, to the religious set, it is the exercise of freedom of religion of your own choice and free will. when attempting to enforce your religious standards, upon others, it then becomes oppressive inhibitor of freedom of religion.

HaShem G-D does not want people to be coerced into pretending to love, in worship of HIM. and it is a sin, to attempt to do this. since we should only supply facts of G-D, and allow those who truly believe in TheONE G-D to come of their own merits, which is the true love of G-D. shalomcha vshalomech...

Answer 8

In the UK recently there has been a rise in fundamentalist Christian belief in response to the liberalising of Christianity by the church, so fundamentalism would seem to be an effect of increasing religious freedom.

Answer 9

I'd say an inhibitor, they are the ones who are afraid of changing to adapt to modern times.

Answer 10

Fundamentalism is the direct product (not byproduct) of religions.