you can't spell fundamentalist without mental, are the devout just really paranoid?

Question

i realize the term 'fundie' is generally associated with christians, however there are people that act like that regardless of their religion. i'm just wondering if these people are so entrenched in fear, that they'd rather come off as proselytizing, institution escapees, than risk what *might* happen. to err is human, right? you never know, you might come back and do it all over if you didn't get it right this time.

Answer 1

And fundies halved is fun dies.

Answer 2

First, the term "fundamentalist" does NOT apply to all Christians, not even to all devout Christians! I found that surprising, also. Wikipedia has a really nice article on the subject, if you would like to look it up.

I'm still learning about it. I'm not sure if I qualify as a "fundie" or not; I agree with some of their theological points, but not all of them!

A fundamentalist's philosophy of faith is NOT based on fear or paranoia. Whoever told you that was mis-informed. In its purest form, a "fundamentalist" believer (whether Jewish, Christian, or Islamic) believes in a literal, rather than symbolic, interpretation of scripture (unless such symbolism is directly identified, as in Jesus' parables). For the fundamentalist Jew, the first 5 books of the Torah were actually written by Moses, who actually existed, freed the slaves, parted the Red Sea, etc. The fundamentalist Christian believes that Jesus Christ was really born to a virgin woman (no sex involved in His conception), He really walked on water, He really rose bodily from the grave, etc. The fundamentalist Muslim believes that Mohammed really had visitations from an angel, really recieved those writings, and that they mean what they say.

Fundamentalism is opposed to modernism. "Modernism" seems to propose that all of these "Holy Books" aren't really to be taken seriously, even though they should be respected. Moses is only one candidate for writing the Pentatuch, and the whole Red Sea thing was probably not that big of a deal, it's just the SYMBOLISM that is important. Jesus Christ wasn't REALLY born of a virgin, it's just a SYMBOL. Jesus didn't REALLY come out of the grave alive after 3 days, it was just a SPIRITUAL ressurection; it's the SYMBOL that counts. Mohammed didn't really talk to an angel, it's just the ENLIGHTENMENT that counts.

There are other things associated with fundamentalism, especially fundamentalistic Christianity, than I have stated here, but I think you get the point. A fundamentalist accepts the tenants of their particular faith as true and solid, haveing an actual reality, and they base their life and choices on that truth. This form of devotion is not fear-based, nor shows any real signs of mental illness (paranoia).

I can honestly understand the mental foundations of a "fundie" more than I can a "Modernistic" believer. Why adhere to a religion that isn't grounded in truth and facts? What is the point of following Jesus, if what is written about Him isn't really true? Why follow Mohammed, if he didn't REALLY hear from an angel? Why read about Moses, if the character is just a symbolic almagmation of several different people? That kind of "belief" makes no sense to me. What is the point?

Answer 3

A lot of ordinary practicing Christians (myself included) are quite ashamed of the behavior of fundamentalist Christians. We see them as folks who overliteralize scripture and miss the entire point of Jesus' message by preaching hate and intolerance instead of love and acceptance.

Like you pointed out, fundamentalists of every sect and religion are usually nutcases. This is probably because of how unbalanced the lives of most fundamentalists are--they mostly refuse to associate with the outside culture, only listen to (often skewed) religious teachings, and thus brainwash themselves.

Answer 4

i hear everything that you are saying and as an agnostic i would say that you might be right who really knows for sure

Answer 5

Infinite regression is impossible.