Are the fundamentalists right?

Question

As an atheist (and one-time Christian), I've often wondered about this:

If you're religious, wouldn't you want to be a 'fundamentalist' and believe in the literal meaning of the holy book, rather than a 'moderate' who follows a 'watered-down' version (for lack of a better phrase).

And I know that Christians understand the Bible was written by men, after the event, so it could contain some errors. But what about the Quran, isn't that the direct word of God, so people should follow it to the letter or not bother?

I'm hoping for some interesting answers, not the usual 'you're going to Hell, don't criticise my religion' stuff.

Answer 1

Your thinking is right on, but a little off...

I once called myself a Christian (but was not), became an atheist in college, and then sat down to read the Bible and prove it wrong.

Now, I believe every Word in the Bible.

For awhile, I was convinced that no one else actually knew what was in the Bible (seemed like an obvious conclusion, given how little the typical professing Christian knows about the Bible).

Later, I came to "see" a large group of people visibly going to church, but made up of two distinct groups. The Bible calls these groups "goats" and "sheep"....or "tares" and "wheat". Basically, a bunch of hypocritical prideful "religious" people (goats and tares) who are trying to EARN or WORK their way to heaven...while tyring to "impress" others, including themselves. They lift high their noses, look down on others, and accuse and condemn other “sinners”. They make a parade of berating the world on their rampages. Most people hate these people...I use to despise them. But now I know that they are just deceived and mostly deluded. These are the people atheists always make fun of (though they make fun of true believers too, of course…)

The other group are true believers (sheep and tares)...and these honestly believe that there is a God. No! More than “believe”…they KNOW God…and know that He is holy...more holy than any person...who commands people to be holy as He is holy...yet they know that they are NOT holy as God...because of their "sins" (lying, stealing, cheating, lusting, coveting, etc, etc...). They know that THEY as well as the rest of the people are in the same boat…no person better than another. They know that God is just and cannot overlook all these sins and that they are headed to hell...that is, without Jesus Christ. They know that God became man and died on the cross for their sins...and by grace (the free gift of God) through faith in Jesus Christ, they know they are going to heaven ("saved" from their sins). They know this “offer” of salvation is open to ALL, and that God turns away NO ONE…and if ANYONE repents, God accepts them with open arms.

Truly BELIEVING this IMMEDIATELY turns thoughts to EVERY other person in the world that does not know Jesus Christ. For these people KNOW that these other people are headed to hell...unless they repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are literally pricked to the heart know that the people they love and care about are headed to hell unless they hear the message and repent and believe. They are compelled by the love of Christ to share these truths with everybody! It often starts (as it did with me), by telling the ones they love the most...their own family. When I did this, I got all kinds of responses. Some thought I was crazy (literally), some thought I had joined a cult, others yelled and screamed at me, but some broke down in tears and believed themselves.

But THAT...is just the beginning of TRULY believing the truth.

"Lukewarm" Christians is what the Bible calls your "moderate" who follows a "watered-down" version of Christianity. And God makes it plain that He is going to "spit them out of His mouth...". (See Revelation 3:16).

The Bible says these "goats" and "tares" shall be gathered together by angels and be cast into the fiery furnace...where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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I have MORE respect for the Muslim guys on the planes of 9/11 than I do for the vast majority of professing Christiandom. Those Muslims are most certainly in hell right now, don’t get me wrong…but they had more “faith” in their false religion than most Christians have in their true religion. Had I a chance to be on those planes and preach the Gospel to them…and had they repented and believed…they would be 100 times the witness for Christ than most Christians…

But alas…
A “mature” faithful Muslim KILLS for his god.
A “mature” faithful Christian LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE for His God.
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Jesus Christ is either LIFE…or He is nothing.

And those that have Jesus as an “add-on” to their life…to “soothe” their pains and use Him as a crutch…and/or use Him as a (hell)-fire insurance policy have got a GREAT awakening coming when they die and burn in hell for all eternity.

They (like you and the rest) better repent and truly believe…and be ready to DIE for Him…for that is what He may call you to do. COUNT the cost, carefully…my atheist friends. Do not enter into Christianity like most…who are half-hearted, fair-weathered professors who DON’T really believe way DEEP down in the depths of their heart.

The most powerful witnesses in Christianity opposed it the most to begin with. Consider Saul of Tarsus…who later became known as Paul…and started nearly all of the earlier churches (He also penned most of the New Testament). It cost him his LIFE…and he got stoned, beaten, ridiculed, imprisoned, and eventually killed.

Become a Christian, my atheist brother, and expect NOTHING less.

In fact, I would rather NOT have some of you come to the Lord…that is, unless you do it with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. These lukewarm Christians sicken me…and God will have His day with them.

“Are the fundamentalist right?” you ask…

Well…depends upon what you mean by fundamentalist.

If it is defined by someone that believes will all their heart, soul, mind, and strength that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…LOVES Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and KNOWS that the NO ONE gets to the Father (heaven) EXCEPT through HIM…and that the rest go to burn in the flames of hell for all eternity…?

Then, yes.

They are right.

You are invited; And you are warned.
Zechariah 3:10; Ezekiel 3:17-21

Your blood be on your own heads, I am cleansed of my responsibility to you and the rest that read these words.

Answer 2

I'm so relieved while I pay attention a further Christian say whatever that I've been pondering all alongside. I used to be taught to like my friends as I love myself as good extra except loving God it's fundamental. I wish that we're consistently loose to train faith as we see have compatibility. However there's a large change in that once Christians kill all of us agree it's incorrect and aren't sympathetic to their assignment of homicide and the Muslims are. Also as I have now not learn their sacred textual content the Koran and I have obvious a few very traumatic feedback approximately the e-book in this discussion board however I have additionally obvious charges from our textual content which are traumatic the best way they're used. Until I learn it for myself I'm now not going to mention that it's perverted. Maybe that's what he stated muhammed I imply to kill all of the infedels. At any cost even though all Muslims aren't terrorist motive on killing us however there are a long way too many that sympathise and help the terrorist. I uncover that traumatic. Like we would not come and kill you when you did not aid Isreal is the angle you get from such a lot of. Yet if through the loss of love the individuals claiming to be individuals of God's church motives individuals to show much more clear of God then probably it's only as dangerous. Personally I might undergo bodily dying earlier than non secular dying if I had that option. To on no account input into God's presence is terrible. And what if the fundamentalist Christians have correctly by way of the a while precipitated the dislike of the Muslims. I had been praying for God to paintings a miracle in Bin Laden's lifestyles in order that he's going to lead his fans down the direction of affection and reconciliation in which everyone knows that God abides. Maybe you'll be able to become a member of in my prayer.

Answer 3

The Bible was penned by man and God breathed. The Bible is inerrant. The God of the Bible and the god of the Koran are not the same god. Yes I would rather be a Christian fundamentalist, it is the only thing that makes any sense in this crazy world. End times Bible prophecy is unfolding everyday, it is incredible!

Answer 4

Literalists miss the whole point; it's as if someone read Animal Farm and believed in talking animals and those who understood the symbolic/allegorical nature were going for the 'watered down' version. Real religious teachings and writings are always symbolic given that the mystery can't be expressed, only pointed to. Unfortunately, the bible and other books become a misinterpretation and forced literalism of the original teacher/experiencer's symbolism.

Answer 5

I believe that the Bible was written by men that were inspired by God. Fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible, and makes for interesting research to validate the Bible as the word of God, as it has been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. Do a web search on fulfilled Bible prophecy. Have fun!

Answer 6

>>>If you're religious, wouldn't you want to be a 'fundamentalist' and believe in the literal meaning of the holy book, rather than a 'moderate' who follows a 'watered-down' version (for lack of a better phrase).

People who accept a more scholarly approach to biblical interpretation are not “moderates”, its called having an education.

>>>And I know that Christians understand the Bible was written by men, after the event, so it could contain some errors. But what about the Quran, isn't that the direct word of God, so people should follow it to the letter or not bother?

There are no errors in the truths that the bible teaches. The problem is that too many refuse to accept that the bible was written in human language influenced by various cultures, with human limitations. The bible paints historical portraits, it does not give historical accounts. It was never intended to.

>>>I'm hoping for some interesting answers, not the usual 'you're going to Hell, don't criticise my religion' stuff. If you're religious, wouldn't you want to be a 'fundamentalist' and believe in the literal meaning of the holy book, rather than a 'moderate' who follows a 'watered-down' version (for lack of a better phrase).

Literal is only one method of interpretation, and it is applicable at the right places, under certain rules, and not for any individual to do so for themselves.

>>> I'm hoping for some interesting answers, not the usual 'you're going to Hell, don't criticise my religion' stuff.

OK. I challenge any one to prove the full doctrine of Scripture (ie., canon, inspiration, inerrancy, authority, etc.) independently of Tradition.

It’s impossible.

I am sure you have seen 2 Timothy 3:16 a 1000X. Check this out:

2 Tim. 3. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned (TRADITION) and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it (MAGISTERIUM) 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings (SCRIPTURE) which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Note that Scripture is not the first thing on his list but the last. And he tells them that the Bible is "profitable" not sufficient to instruct us. It is only when we include Scripture with Tradition and Magisterium that we are "fully equipped.". and the man of God is not self-ordained, but ordained by a higher authority (bishop)

Interestingly enough in Catholic Tradition the four uses of Scripture corresponded to the Quadriga, the four-fold method of exegesis for the Bible used in the medieval period: Literal (teaching), Analogical (reproof), Prophetic (correction), and Moral (training in righteousness). The protestant reformers rejected this and tried to reduce biblical exegesis to the literal-historical method. In doing so, they were considered by their Catholic contemporaries as being unbiblical for ignoring 2Tim 3:16.


I. Methods and Approaches for Interpretation: The Historical-Critical Method
1. History of the Method
2. Principles
3. Description
4. Evaluation

A.New Methods of Literary Analysis

1. Rhetorical Analysis
2. Narrative Analysis
3. Semiotic Analysis.

B) Approaches Based on Tradition:
1.) The Canonical Approach
2.) Approach through Recourse to Jewish Traditions of Interpretation
3.) Approach by the History of the Influence of the Text

D. Approaches that Use the Human Sciences
1. The Sociological Approach
2. The Approach through Cultural Anthropology 3. Psychological and Psychoanalytical Approaches

Thats a partial list. I suggest you call your nearby Catholic parish and ask to sit in on some RCIA classes that are worthy of your intelligence.

Answer 7

The problem with fundementalism is their hidden agenda. The groups are usually led by authoritarian males who consider themselves to be superior to others and who have an overwhelming commitment to subjugate women and to dominate their fellow believers. Although they tend to believe that the past was better than the present, they retain certain self-beneficial aspects of both their historic religious beliefs and of the modern world. Fundamentalists draw clear distinctions between themselves, as true believers, and others, convinced that they are right and that anyonewho contradicts them is ignorant and possibly evil. Fundamentalists are militant in fighting against any challenge to their beliefs. They are often angry and sometimes resort to verbal or even phyusical abuse against those who interfere with the implementation of their agenda. Fundamentalists tend to make their self-definition increasingly narrow and restricted, to isolate themselves, to demagogue emotional issues, and to view change, cooperation, negotiation and other efforts to resolve differences as signs of weakness. I would never be a fundamentalist and would not wish it on my worst enemy. Closed mindedness and superiority with Christianity does not mix. Too many use the Bible to promote their bigotry, misogeny and their own agendas.

Answer 8

I'm a fundy and have no problem admitting it. I believe the Bible is the true Word of the Lord my God.

Other books make the same claim but my Bible tells me that their wrong and that is all there is to it. Its a no-brainer for me, I believe the Bible! And because I do, I don't believe there is any other book that is word of God.

Answer 9

Well, I am a Christian. Lukewarm Christians are funny to me. You either believe in all He says, or why bother? The Quran, I don't know much about so I can't comment on it. I believe in all the Bible says, but actually living it takes alot of faith and prayer.

Answer 10

Yes, you should. Think about everyone is a fundamentalalist. Even an atheist fundamentally believes there is not God, if he doesn't then he is a fundament agnostic. Fundamentalist is just a fancy way of saying, "You actually believe what you believe."

Answer 11

For me, there isn't any point to follow something if you can pick and choose what to believe and what not to. This is the reason I take the Bible literally. Wouldn't that make me a hypocrate if I didn't.