What is the difference between Fundamentalists and Christians?

Question

Zebra the question is snarky too. I just got real tired of Fundanazis asking that about the Original Church

Lord Edward, your answer is poorly worded. You should pay attention to what is happening in here before you shoot from the hip

Answer 1

In recent times, the term "fundamentalist" has become commonly used by the news media to refer to any religious group whom they consider to hold radical views. We may recall frequent references to the mid-east Islamic fundamentalists who have been viewed as fanatics, and often responsible for acts of terrorism.


Similarly, liberal society uses the term fundamentalist to identify any Christian whom they consider to be an extremist. Generally, they classify a Christian as a radical fundamentalist if they merely believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible, if they hold views against sexual permissiveness, homosexuality, abortion on demand, or any views which are politically incorrect.


From the Christian perspective, fundamentalist has traditionally referred to any follower of Christ who believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and who believes in its literal interpretation and fundamental teachings. The fundamental Christian believes in the experience of the "new birth" which occurs when faith is placed in Christ as Savior and Lord. To the world this may be viewed as radical, but is very basic to the Christian faith.


In the broad sense, fundamentalism may be used to describe Christians who are uncompromising, conservative and who take their beliefs to the maximum — exactly how every believer should live. But because of recent, increased activism by those identified as fundamentalists, who have promoted unethical actions such as bringing violence against abortion clinics, doctors etc., some academic circles believe that fundamentalism has been redefined by our society. They believe that the philosophy of fundamentalism (at least in the world's eyes) has evolved into a legitimate form of extremism, with views too radical for the balanced, evangelical Christian. For this reason, fundamentalism may no longer be a term which accurately conveys what orthodox Christians really believe.


http://www.victorious.org/churchbook/chur21.htm

Answer 2

"Fundamentalists" and "Christians" are very broad terms for two separate groups which overlap to a relatively tiny extent. As has been noted by others here, a fundamentalist Christian is simply one who holds to more Biblically-based beliefs and principles (as opposed to a more liberal, modernized view) regarding his or her discipleship.
Christian fundamentalism is NOT truly synonymous with Christian extremism, although it seems to be acquiring that connotation through recent popular misuse.

Now, from your replies to replies, I see that you are trying to make a point, rather than asking a bona fide question. May I ask what that point is? Are you somehow equating either fundamentalism or extremism with Christianity? If so, I don't agree with you that Lord Edwards' reply is poorly worded (except for his second sentence, which incorrectly implies that all fundamentalists are Christian). Selby's reply is even better, if one is truly interested in understanding the issue.

Answer 3

Your question is a bit poorly worded. You might as well ask, "What's the difference between murderers and humans?" The two are not mutually exclusive, but you can have one without the other. Most Christians, by far, are not fundamentalists. They've made the decision to modernize their beliefs with the times. In fact, Christianity has a long linage of reformers, from Martin Luther to Thomas Aquinas, to Billy Graham.

Fundamentalism suggests and abandonment of the modern and a return to strict, fundamental core beliefs and teachings. Perhaps the Amish would be considered fundamentalists. What you probably mean is "extremist." Christians with extreme beliefs are quite rare, so much so that they would be considered a mathematical anomaly. The same cannot be said for extremist Muslims, who are a very large minority.

Answer 4

To start off, not all fundamentalists are Christians. There are fundamentalists in every religion. I've never met a "Pagan fundamentalist," or a "Buddhist fundamentalist," but I'm sure they're out there. From what I have seen, though, the bulk majority of fundamentalists come from Christianity and Islam.

The definition of a fundamentalist is anyone who adheres to a strict set of rules.

The characterization of fundamentalists is people who are hatefully religious, often with the chief quality of believing that their beliefs are the only possible correct ones, and that others who believe differently are misled. For the fundamentalist, no method is to extreme to "show people the truth"

Answer 5

Hate and Unconditional Love, respectively.

A fundamentalist will try and push their views on others, even if they do not fit. They will try and justify killing for a country while condemning the idea of Abortion. They will support one side of a war because of their own ideals rather than realizing that BOTH sides are wrong in the first place. They will disruptively protest a funeral of a person because the country that person lived in is believed to be something they're NOT. They will hate a group of people just because they don't agree with their lifestyle.

A CHRISTIAN (or, a true believer in ANY religion, for that matter), however, will love the person REGARDLESS of how they feel about the lifestyle. They will be for peace and protest the killing of ANYONE. They will extend the hand of peace and love to a person because they are HUMAN and deserve that right. They will NOT try to force their message on people, but rather try to see the connection between THEIR relationship with Spirit, and the other's relationship. And they will be respectful if that person says that they feel NO relationship, and will treat that person with kindness without expectation of a conversion to a belief IN a Higher Power, and without mentioning the issue ever again.

Answer 6

A fundamentalist can be of any religion but is uncompromising in living to its beliefs. Fundamentalism is present in Islam as well as in Christianity.
A Christian believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins and came back to life. A Christian tries to live according to Jesus' teaching - to be a disciple (follower) of His. Many sincere, effective Christians are not Fundamentalists because they don't, for example, believe that Genesis contains a LITERAL account of creation. They are willing to accept what science says rather than always insisting that we accept every word of the Bible uncompromisingly. They are good Christians but not Fundamentalists.

Answer 7

A fundamentalist is a person who is has an ideology that is resistant to change....usually a radical and without reason..whether good or bad...usually backed by a religon. Christians are people who believe in the Christian god....they believe in Christ and the whole heaven and hell thing. SO a Christian can be a fundamentalist but a fundamentalist does not mean the person is a Christian.

Answer 8

a important distinction is that Islamic fundamentalists thinks that's ok to kill human beings interior the call of God and dedicate terrorism. Christian fundamentalists do no longer kill human beings or dedicate terrorism, a minimum of so a good distance as i understand.

Answer 9

A fundamentalist Christian is one who believes in the basic Christian doctrines. Mainly-
the Bible is the in errant word of God
Jesus was born of a virgin
Jesus is the only way to God
there are 3 persons in 1 God, but there is only 1 God
believers will live eternally in heaven
non-believers will live in eternal punishment

Answer 10

A Fundamentalist is an extremest.
A true Christian does not go to those extremes.
To be extreme is not a good thing.
Everything is on a bell curve.
On the fringes is considered not normal.
For the most part 70.7% of the sample is in the center.
It is called the norm from the sample.
To get a real accurate sample you must use a lot of people or what ever you are sampling.