Will they ever learn that their tactics are producing the opposite of their desired effect? Insulting people, telling everyone they are hellbound, spreading hatred (especially towards gays) attacking other beliefs and using report flags as a form of ideological warfare do not make people want to convert. Which Lord do they really serve when they cause kindhearted people to hate to eve hear the name Jesus?
2007-03-20 07:19:21 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is an INTERESTING question, because it picks up 'the other side's view' of what most 'fundamentalists' think that they are doing ... saving people's souls. Unfortunately, most fundamentalists actually believe that the 'Bible' is ALL FACT and that 'they' are the only ones who are 'informed by God' to 'interpret it' to others. That is 'not true' on many different levels and for many different reasons. I'm a Catholic, and that means I'm a Christian, too ... the Catholics were the 'first' Christians, after all, but most people (including many Catholics) don't seem to know that if one is a Catholic, one is also a Christian. As a result, I've felt a lot of the same 'hate' that you feel from 'fundamentalists' ... which is patently RIDICULOUS, even when it is being 'perpetuated' by fundamentalists.
Fundamentalists believe in 'evangelism' ... which to them means that they have been given the 'mission' of 'saving souls' whether the person they are 'trying to save' needs it or not. They use 'preaching' with every 'charitable act' they do ... which turns many people, especially the hungry and homeless OFF from want to even 'think about Christ' unless they have to do some 'everyday thing' like eat a meal or sleep on a mat on the floor in a shelter. The Catholics do the same 'missions' but are only 'remarkable' because they 'don't advertise' that they are Catholics or even Christians, because they believe that what Christ said about 'charity' ... it's BEST when 'your right hand doesn't know what your left hand is doing.' As for the issue of using 'report flags' as a form of 'ideological warfare' is, as far as I am concerned, the WORST form of 'fundamentalist evangelizing' seen. You can't 'stop' the other side saying 'bad things' about Christ and expect people to realize that 'Christ' is the 'best way' to be 'saved' and 'go to Heaven' ... in fact, it may 'do' the exact opposite, by showcasing just how 'crazy' their evangelism is.
There is a 'miracle' about Jesus Christ, though ... that his 'message' was originally given to 'a very few' people in a 'tiny country' on 'the edge of the world' ... but it is now the 'loudest voice' in the world ... and I hope that someday (although I doubt it will happen in my lifetime) people will come to 'truly understand' what Christ was saying ... that it doesn't matter 'who you are' or 'where you come from' or even 'what you believe' ... if you are 'a good person' and live 'according to the teachings of Christ' (even if you don't admit Christ was the Son of God and God Himself come to earth) then you will 'go to Heaven.' Then, if you were 'evil' when alive on earth, I think that God is so 'merciful' and 'so totally and unconditionally loving' that even 'serial killers' and 'mass murderers' and 'fundamentalists' will be 'given time and a place to come to understanding' and eventually 'be with God in Heaven,' along with the rest of us.
2007-03-20 07:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by Kris L 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Lol I notion you wrote "stigmata". Anyway, fundamentalism is distinctive to conservatism. Conservatism is the obedience to ethical values concurrent with perspectives held as much as the nineteenth century. After this, particularly after global conflict two, folks attempted to go back to values they felt were misplaced, and ended up taking a much more literal system than individuals who had preceeded them in human historical past. Sure, you had fundamentalist corporations just like the puritans, however it wasn't as good identified and accredited as it's within the twenty first century. So conservatism I can manage. But fundamentalism simply pisses folks off considering that you are forcing it down our necks.
2016-09-05 09:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the best arguments against Christianity, in my opinion is the behavior of people in the church.
One of the best arguments in favor of the Truth of Christianity is the depravity of human nature, and most other religous world views hold a high view of human nature, versus a fallen view of human nature.
The biggest obstacle the church has is that it constantly forgets that redemption occurs solely through grace, not through merit, and that one who is redeemed has no right to look down on one who is not. The church is made up of redeemed fallen, sinful people. If it were to be more honest about what that actually means, I think you would see the church be able to behave much more compassionately...
I find I would much rather be around an intellectually honest atheist/agnostic than many of the Christians I have met...
2007-03-20 07:28:28 · answer #3 · answered by doc in dallas 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you're making a common mistake of confusing Fundamentalists with some certain radical groups.
Fundamentalists are usually misdefined. They are not even necessarily conservative in nature. In fact, most true fundamentalists are rather liberal. A fundamentalist believes that the very centermost Christian doctrine is what is required for salvation. This being issues such as belief in Jesus Christ as God and savior of mankind, the sovereignty of God, and a few other essential doctrines.
By that proper definition (which has been lost in pop culture today) every Christian is at least a fundamentalist.
Why do the radical groups you described do such things? Well, there are a number of reasons for different things you mentioned, so I will go through them one by one.
Insulting:
Many groups can become very self-absorbed in their salvation, believing that somehow they have done something to earn greater favor with God, failing to realize that salvation is completely the work of God, not of any human. These people tend to become haughty and for the most part stupid. Many of them are not even Christians themselves, but rather believe they are because they commonly darken the doorway of a church.
Hellbound:
Any Christian who is serious about their faith will tell people that they are hellbound at some point in their presentation of God's good news. Why? If you tell someone they need to be saved, it helps for them to understand what they need to be saved from. The radical groups that you mentioned usually are telling people once again with a self-righteous view in order to assert their worth over others.
Spreading Hatred:
Christians do spread their beliefs, which can often be misinterpreted as hatred just as any other groups' opinions can be. Christians want to spread God's Word, which has judgment in it, but that does not mean that they want to judge people nor that they want to express hate towards them. On the contrary, they are telling people so that they can turn away from ways that destroy a person's life. On the subject of gays, most of those people who carry around gay hate posters aren't even in the radical groups, but are just another bunch of bigots like nazis that try to use Scripture to justify their hatred of blacks and jews. Sexual immorality in Scripture is very clear, but what is also clear is that God redeems people from it. Also what is clear is that pretty much every type of immorality is equal to God here, between sleeping around to homosexuality to pedophilia or just plain lust. God hates sexual sin just as he hates every sin. Christians declare that God hates sin, but he gives mercy and love to sinners.
Attacking others beliefs:
This unfortunately I can't just hand off to the radical groups. Many true Christians attack other people's views. This can be for a few reasons. One is that they don't know how to handle their own faith very well, so they attack things they don't understand because they are afraid. Another is that they have become frustrated with people of those beliefs attacking them, and in sin they attack back. It is also common that they just have a low degree of tact, and while they are not intending to assault a person's beliefs, they have a lapse in strategy of words, and just come across wrong.
2007-03-20 07:56:53 · answer #4 · answered by GodsKnite 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the immortal words of Duco (Eli Wallach), the Ugly, from the classic spaghetti western movie "the good, the bad, and the ugly" starring Clint Eastwood...
As he was talking to his brother the priest...
"Why would god have created sheep, if he did not want them to be sheared?"
2007-03-20 07:21:36 · answer #5 · answered by Morey000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it's because Jesus said:
"51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three"
The wheat must be seperated from the chaff. The sheep from the goats. Perhaps those who will not humble themselves to realize they are hell bound do not belong with those that are.
Just a theory.
2007-03-20 07:24:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I use to hate God.. i use to think he was stupid. "Praying everyday sounds stupid"
worshiping a God who wants everyone to himself... wants us to do everything HE wants... but when i saw God ... i realize that he only wants us because he shows up Good and happyness ... wich Satan showed me sadness and hard depression.
Id say its because people want freedom and dont realize God supplys it.
Doesnt realize that God is only wanting us to be happy, no stress, no depression and no sadness.
People dont see this in God... because there blind by the darkness!
2007-03-20 09:27:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of them think there can only be 144,000 people in heaven, sooooo they want to narrow the list? I'm just guessing. When you figure it out tell me.
2007-03-20 07:22:30 · answer #8 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Fundmamentalist/Evangelical, Conservative types don't feel that way. They feel that they are doing the "lord's work".
2007-03-20 07:42:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they realize any damage they might be causing. They are over zealous and want everyone to know God and His love for us all. They are just imperfect people like the rest of us. Can't really fault them for being less than perfect unless your more than perfect.
2007-03-20 07:24:39 · answer #10 · answered by hiscinders 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋