I don't know much about fundamentalism. If somebody is a fundamentalist or has a knowledge of the fundamentalist viewpoint, it would be a great help if you could share the basics. And, it seems like a very controversial view. Is this correct? How is it viewed by the world, generally?
2007-01-27 13:19:26 · 18 answers · asked by eastchic2001 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Fundamentalism has come to refer to several different understandings of religious thought and practice, through literal interpretation of religious texts such as the Bible or the Quran and sometimes also anti-modernist movements in various religions.
It is a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles. In the US, is is a movement in American Protestantism that arose in the early part of the 20th century in reaction to modernism and that stresses the infallibility of the Bible not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record, holding as essential to Christian faith belief in such doctrines as the creation of the world, the virgin birth, physical resurrection, atonement by the sacrificial death of Christ, and the Second Coming.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines fundamentalism as a usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.
2007-01-27 13:28:57 · answer #1 · answered by faithful 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The term fundamentalist was used to describe those who proclaimed the basic fundamental doctrines of Christianity, in the early 1900's, when the modernist movement had started to spread. However in more recent time (from the 70's onward) certain Christian or "christian" groups began to emphasize certain secondary doctrines, insisting that if you were a real fundamentalist that was what you believed. Eventually those are the groups that began to be called fundamentalist, and it became a dirty word, because those groups were continually condemning everyone who didn't cross their t's like them.
Since then, the term fundamentalist has begun to be applied to those of other religious groups (such as Muslims) who show extremist beliefs, who are condemnig everyone who disagrees with them.
For some, it has become a common insult to throw at those who disagree with you!
If I lived in the first half of the 1900', I would call myself a fundamentalist. Now, however, I wouldn't because the meaning has changed so radically.
However, every once in a while a questioner makes fun of "fundies" and I identify myself as a "fundie" just to be funny.
2007-01-27 13:30:38 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its controversial because it means rejecting, logic, rationality and sooner or later - sanity.
A fundamentalist believes that their holy book is an accurate and literal guide to the truth. No story in it can be dismissed as allegory.
How are such people viewed? Well, ignorant, in a word. Since holding such a view means contradicting much that can be factually proven in astronomy, biology and its crowning jewel of course, evolution. To be honest, ignorance isn't the right word - Its not that they don't know, though if you see how the choose to misunderstand evolution it seems thats all it is, they refuse to know. If something contradicts the bible - then whatever contradicts it, no matter how solid the evidence is, must be renounced.
I've heard professional theologians argue that extra-terrestrial life is impossible because there are no aliens in the bible.
If you want to be able to think for yourself, reject all arguments from authority (because we say so), search out the truth for yourself and don't feel you need to make up your mind on a subject until the evidence is in.
2007-01-27 13:24:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It has come to be a catch-all phrase people like to use to stereotype certain people they don't like - just like some use the word "liberals".
Really though, a fundamentalist is someone who takes the Bible literally, except when it is obvious that the text is merely employing figures of speech, which is very typical of the Hebrew language; less so in the Greek.
When the Bible says "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6); fundamentalists interpret the verse like this:
Jesus is, the Way
Jesus is the Truth,
Jesus is, the Life.
No one comes to the Father, except by Him.
Does that seem unreasonable?
2007-01-27 13:30:54 · answer #4 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's believing in the "fundimentals" of the bible. It's a literal view point of christianity. To a fundimentalist, every word in the Bible is a fact and was given to its authors by God personally. The reason it's so controversal is because fundimentalist tend to go out of their way to either get others to believe the same way they do. In extereme cases, fundimentalist are responsible for crimes such as burning down maternity clinics or murdering homosexuals, simply because they believe God would want them to do it.
2007-01-27 13:29:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fundamentalists are generally good and honorable people, who unfortunately tend to interpret their book (let's take the Bible since I am a Christian) in an historical vacuum. The Bible is literal truth, but it is not always written literally. Fundamentalists would not agree with that statement.
2007-01-27 13:28:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Really? I have no intention of murdering someone, nor condoning it. How arrogant of you to assume what I believe and what I don't believe. Or what I would do or what I would not do. Just because someone has done this, you think that's what we ALL would do? How very generalizing and narrow minded of you! So, because you have come on here and said this stupid thing, should I presume ALL pro-choice people are as ignorant as you? Edit: First of all, I just want to say that MURDER is wrong no matter WHO is murdered, so I don't agree with the murder of this man, though I think he should have been STOPPED from all the murders he has committed. But do you want to know what is really IRONIC?? President Obama saying he is "APPALLED" at the murder of this man. When it was Obama who ordered the murder of innocent babies that this man, and all others like him were aborting! He says absolutely NOTHING about all the millions of aborted babies he has signed his name to!! He sickens me, he really does. I just think it's "appalling" that someone can condone the murder of millions of INNOCENT LIVES, but not condone the murder of one. God Himself will avenge the innocent blood being shed! He will take care of all of those who have had anything to do with murdering babies, whether they are punished in this life or not, they will be punished eternally when this life is over!
2016-03-15 01:00:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I THINK that fundamentalism takes the Bible quite literally. I think that maybe I am a fundamentalist, based on that assumption, but I'm not sure.
2007-01-27 13:24:02 · answer #8 · answered by Iamnotarobot (former believer) 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wait, hmmm..
Understandings of religious thought and practice, through literal interpretation of religious texts such as the Bible or the Qur'an and sometimes also anti-modernist movements
(Dawkins in my opinion is a fundamentalist atheist)
2007-01-27 13:23:49 · answer #9 · answered by FAUUFDDaa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 'fundamentals" of a holy book, taken literally.
There are Christian Fundamentalists and Islamic fundamentalists,
I think that's it though.
2007-01-27 13:24:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋