Why do fundies deny that they are fundies, hiding behind the honorable label "Christian" instead?

Question

Fundamentalism is only a fringe element in Christianity. Most of the world's Christians are Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. Most Protestants are very far from being fundamentalists. Fundamentalism has only been around for 100 years. Christianity has existed for two thousand years. So in terms both of numbers and of history, the fundies are really pretty insignificant. They make a lot of noise and pretentious claims. They do *not* speak for Christianity in general, only for their own fringe group. So why don't they admit to being the fringe element that they are, and stop pretending to speak for Christianity? Are they embarrassed to admit that they are fundamentalists?

Answer 1

Actually, fundamentalists and Christian literalists think they are on the cutting edge of Christianity. They think they are the real church. They believe they know the truth. So, no, I don't think they are embarrassed. I think they are proud. Too proud.

I see, however, a few contradictions with fundamentalism. They believe that god is the judge, but because they know the true way, they become the judges over other people. I suppose it is not a rare occurrence to have a fundamentalist warn someone about hell for not believing in Adam and Eve, or in Jesus, or in the Bible.

Fundamentalists believe god is love, but they spread hatred, violence and discrimination. Just look at their records on gays, Iraq, Islam, Catholicism and science. They do not hesitate to spread their hatred of these things and others.

Fundamentalists believe that people have free will and make choices. However, fundamentalists want to limit the choices anyone can make. They expect everyone to follow their scruples and laws.

Fundamentalists are proud, hateful, judgmental and intolerant, but they are not embarrassed.

And blah blah blah.

Answer 2

Fundamentalism began with the apostles Peter, James, John, etcetera. These were all fundamentalists. They were fundamentalists in that they held to a certain set of doctrines that were delivered by God to man. The Apostle's creed covers some of these basic truths of God's Word. They were not called fundamentalists cuz that word didn't exist at that time, but if it had that is what they would have been called. Fundamentalists are the heart and soul of Christianity today. They fully believe in God's Word and honour God by so believing.

As for most of the world's Christians being Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, this is true. But this does not mean that they have salvation, for most do not. What they have is a watered down religious belief system that is largely based on traditional teachings of man, with little value placed on the teachings of Scripture, or the truths of Scripture. They need to be saved. And this is where you can be thankful that there are fundamentalists in the world. They can assist these lost souls to come to a knowledge of the truth, through the direction of God's Spirit, of course. Thank God for fundamentalists! I just know that this is what you wanted to hear.

Answer 3

These people are not the norm, but they comprise a measurable minority. Obviously if someone is really just looking for an opportunity to argue, that's bad, but that does not typify them. These people have very concrete beliefs, and things that other people do with those beliefs honestly offends these people, and they speak out about it. There is a lot of logic as to why they view their version of Wicca is correct and other versions should not be called Wicca. (I disagree with them, but I don't find them illogical) And while I am an eclectic Wiccan, I despise what some Wiccans do with ancient gods and goddesses, shoehorning them into a Wiccan format (or more often, into their own make believe system they call Wicca) without any respect as to who those deities are or where they come from. It's disrespectful to both the indigenous cultures from which they come and to the gods themselves. All goddesses are NOT moon goddesses. They just aren't. Claiming otherwise makes you either ignorant or a liar. So I actually support some of what you describe.

Answer 4

Islamic Jihadists are fundamentalist.
Terrorists are fundamentalist
Social communism is fundamentalist
Dictators are fundamentalist
(or should I say on the "mental list")

True Christianity doesn't go around "pimping" Gods word,

( unless you're jim jones, or charles manson, or satanist, or communist, or terrorist ect...) to accomplish their own evil desires, or burning churches down, or executing others because they don't believe or speak out in defense, or kill others over an ideology ect... But the above mentioned in parantheses, do make a lot of noise and pretentious claims, they don't speak for Christianity except for their own selfish desires. So >they< need to admit on the fundamentalist ideology on which >they< stand. Or are they too chicken s--- to admit they are radical funda "mental list".
See--projectionism works if they look back in another mirror.

Answer 5

I am a fundamentalist, and I like the label. You must accept some fundamentals before we can talk the same language. Broad is the way to destruction, many there are that enter in thereat.

http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html is a great site for us fundies to rally around biblical infallibility... check it out.

Also, I am assuming you are equating conservative Christianity with fundamentalism, there are differing beliefs that are all considered conservative.

Answer 6

Your definitions of both "fundamentalism" and "Christianity" are slightly different than mine. Fundamentalism to you seems to be a very fringe group that does extreme things that Catholics don't do. Christianity to you seems to mean any religion that is not Jewish that does believe in the God of the Bible.
To me, fundamentalism means devout Christians who take their interpretation of the Bible very literally and hold those beliefs very strongly.
To me, Christianity is more a relationship with God than a organized program of like-minded churches. The latter is more the definition of "denomination."
To me, being a Christian is to have Jesus as my personal Savior, knowing that He is preparing a place in heaven for me because He took the penalty for my sins.
According to a survey by Baylor University, "Christian" church denominations fall into at least three categories, fundamentalist, evangelical and mainline. The denominations you mention are mainline, along with Methodist, Reformed, Episcopal, Lutheran, etc.
I attend a church that falls in the evangelical category.

Answer 7

More like a sect, actually. Their constant denial of common sense, scientific advances, the importance attached to charismatic leaders and the rigidity of their belief system are some of the characteristics one will find in any sectarian movement around the world, from Raelians to stuff as bizarre as the Worshipers of the Onion.

Answer 8

As a fundimentalist Christian who is training to be a priest, I'd like to appologise for the places we've failed to reflect the good that is in Jesus. You sound like you've seen a lot of mess caused by fundimentals (I'm assuming you mean evangelicals here).

However, in terms of facts...Dude - I'm sorry to tell you but you're talking out of your butt. ... trust me I'm doing a postgrad in theology at Oxford UK.

Fundimentalist Christianity has been around since Jesus and the disciples.
Most of the Christians you will have heard of down the ages were fundimentalist by todays standards. St Augustine, St Francis of Assisi, St Patrick ... you name them!

I'm training to be a priest in the Episcopalian Church and in the vast majority of Episcopalian (Anglican) christians world wide are evangelical (fundimentalists) - most of them are just not in the west.

Answer 9

It's pretty obvious that nothing they do embarrasses them. But I'm not so sure that Christian label is all the honorable either.

Answer 10

Doesn't bother me if you call me a "fundie"
I belong to an Assembly of GOD Church and I am NOT ashamed of what I believe nor of WHOM I believe in.
What do you believe in,if anything? Do you belong to the Church of the Bashers whose sole function is to criticize and put down others for their beliefs? if so I bet you are a deacon or something there.