Define Fundie?

Question

I hear this term alot on Answers... I know who it is directed at... what is the origin of it?

Answer 1

"Fundamentalist" is a term used to distinguish between different attitudes to sacred texts. Fundamentalist Christians believe that the Bible is inerrant, historically and scientifically accurate, and the "Word of God" - although what the latter expression means, precisely, can be hard to pin down. Non fundamentalists hold that the Bible can be subjected to the tests and critical processes that can be used for any other text. The conclusion of most non fundamentalist Christians is that Biblical texts express the religious beliefs and world view of their authors, and should be read within that context.

Answer 2

Primarly aimed at Christians, but it can also represent any religion or even Atheists and Agnostics.

It is an orthodox (or conservative, old-school, fuddy duddy) thinker who goes "by the book" and shouts it from the mountain tops for all to hear and beat you over the head with it.

Atheist and Agnostic fundies talk about Monkeys and (more correctly) apes, instead of the current lines of separate and distinct species concept of Modern (or NEW AGE or LIBERAL) science.

A fundie psychiatrist would be a die hard Freudian, even though that branch of the profession is now considered Voodoo Medicine.

An astronomy fundie would still view Pluto as a planet. Most Fundie Astronomers are balking at the new rules for planets and saying they sound like they were written by Accountants or LAwyers and not scientists.

Answer 3

Fundie = fundamentalist, biblical literalist.

The term arose about a hundred years ago within Christianity to distinguish those who believe the Bible is literally true and inerrant, and those who believe that the Bible was written by people who, while "inspired" by their religious faith, wrote from a human perspective. The resulting text (from that perspective) includes myth, legend, and other human ways of expressing experience other than just historical record.

Fundamentalists called themselves that because they regarded the Bible as the foundation, or fundamental of their belief, and not open to the literary or textual criticism that was a major intellectual project of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially amongst German theologians..

The distinction is less useful in Islam,where the sacred text, the Koran, is believed to have been directly dictated by God via an angel to Muhummad.

Answer 4

Fundie is a pejorative term for Fundamentalist Christians and is part of United States slang. It is intentionally derogatory, and is used most commonly by those opposed to the Religious Right movement.

Answer 5

Actually the term was coined in the early 1900's and refered to those who accepted the Bible in a literal sence. Unfortunately with fundamental Muslims coming on the scene and exhibiting extreme behavior the term has taken on a whole new meaning and people have taken the term used by Muslims and applied it to Christians giving them a bad name. I have been a fundamental Christian for over 60 years.

utuk - you have no idea what you are talking about.

Answer 6

Bush? How did that girl above throw Bush into her list of fundies? George W. Bush is a non-practicing Episcopalean who has never given any indication whatsover that he a fundamentalist.

Otherwise, most of the definitions seem right. I might add that fundamentalists, contrary to popular belief, are not religious conservatives. In fact, they are as far opposite of conservative as you can get - they reject all traditional interpretations of the Christian religion, and adhere to a series of doctrines that were mostly invented within the last few decades.

Answer 7

Fundie - from Fundamentalist, as in Christian Fundamentalist. The term came around the 70's when Fundamentalists started getting involved in politics.

Answer 8

Religious Fundementalist. Those crazy people who don't think for themselves and take everything in their sacred book as law. Known to lead crusades, burn witches, blow up abortion clinics, and become suicide bombers. Dangerous creatures best avoided. Whatever you do, don't make eyecontact or start a conversation with them.

Answer 9

Bush, Robertson, Cheney, Falwell.

Answer 10

Fundamentalist = Extremist