I've always noticed that religious and political "fundamentalists" have a kind of "uptightness" about them...

Question

...as if they are trying very hard to "Not" think about certain "bad" desires that might enter their mind...and I've noticed this "practice of denial about sexual desires" does not result in them being a very good person...as if their "striving" for "pure goodness" results in a "pose," or "self-deception" about goodness...
Aren't my instincts about them correct? Aren't they putting on a "false face" over their ego...hiding from their own Devil?!?

Answer 1

It's all the hair spray.

Answer 2

Here's the thing about fundamentalists. They lie. To themselves, to God, the people around them. They claim to be pure and good, but like you said they cannot controll what runs through their minds when a half-naked woman walks by. Or their pants for that matter. Fundamentalists, especially religious fundamentalists, believe that in order to reach the next level in their faith that they must be perfect. What they don't realize is this, no matter how hard they try to prove to their fellow man that they are better and stronger and wiser, God knows. My ex-husband was Muslim, and it took me a long time to convince him that while everyone outside of our home may not have known some of the "risky" business we have done, thus proving to them that we are holy, God still saw all of it. And he knows and remembers and laughs at us for thinking that we are fooling him, by fooling our fellow man. Politicians on the other hand are seeking power from their convictions. Claiming that they are strictly one way, and that they will not waiver. But we as the people do not see everything that hides behind the doors of the White House. We don't see what the camara man laughs at after he turns it off. It is their own karmic failure that they think they are "safe" from judgement. Muslims have to wash, and put on clean clothes before they pray. Well I pray naked in the shower sometimes. Does that mean that I am not loved by God. He sees me while I am having sex. He watches me gorge away on a bag full of sliders. He watches me flip people off in traffic. Does all of that mean that I am less than a fundamentalist because I understand I am not perfect and that I never will be. No. It just means that I am human. And fundamentalists of any sort have not been shown the light if you will on this subject. They do not understand humanity as a whole. They only try to prevent themselves from paying any debt when they die, and thus only land themsleves in a heap load more trouble than the rest of us.

Answer 3

Religion is and always has been about control. Even when it is violent towards people who think differently, it is attempting to establish a mentally homogeneous group such that order is maintained.

The problem is that religion isn't so much about defeating problems or unhealthy desires with one's own strength as it is about the struggle to keep them bottled up deep inside. But of course, religion has this base covered too: "don't worry, it won't be much longer now until you get to go to Heaven, and then all your worries are gone!"

God and the Devil are within; we make of them what we will.

Answer 4

How on earth did you get from religious and political to sexual?
Uptight, yes. but sexual?
Most people who have strong beliefs tend to become uptight about what they view as obvious ignorance of their greater understanding on a subject. Atheists protest the "delusion" of the religious, the right wing protest the arrogance of the left. If it didn't matter so much, they wouldn't be so uptight I guess, but they see the issues as being more important than life itself.
Those who believe strongly and are ignorant of the reasoning tend to wear masks of a sort, to appear more knowledgeable than they truly are. There is your false face then. But sexual??

Answer 5

hello once again

Here's the thing-- most "religious fundamentalists" (I can't speak for the political), go about it backwards. The love of Christ is what draws us to repentance, we don't repent SO THAT we can earn the love of Christ. The love of Christ cannot be earned, so if we try to avoid sexuality and avoid "bad" thoughts in order to be "good," we are totally wasting our time. You are right that religious people are uptight, and it is because they have not realized that their salvation lies in GIVING UP their ability to be good, and realizing only Jesus Christ and God are good. That is the whole point of the gospel -- that Christ lived a sinless life so that we don't have to pay the penalty for our sin. Once we are born again into Christ, we are free. We do not have to be uptight, afraid, fundamentalist, whatever. We can live in the freedom and joy of obedience to Christ. We will avoid evil not out of fear, but out of love.

Answer 6

Simple really - Christians in their faith have the knowledge and love of God. They worship and talk of the loving, inclusive and forgiving Lord.

Fundamentalists lack that faith and instead turn to ideology (there is a huge difference). Most fundamentalists are also far more in love with their own ego than they ever will be with the Lord!!

Answer 7

It helps to be morally conscious if you think about being morally conscious all the time.

Ever heard about the scientific finding that plastering a smile on your face, regardless of your emotions at the time, helps lift your mood? Same line of reasoning.

By the way, religious people aren't as "uptight" as you think. On average, we're happier and more satisfied with our lives, even those of us suffering from depression. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015870,00.html

Take that!

I hope you're already aware that nobody is perfect. A cliche, but true enough.

Cheers!

Answer 8

Its called common sense......would a recovering alcoholic walk down a street with liquor stores......?

Why would people want to surround themselves with bad influences, then?

I'm not fundamentalist or right wing by any means, but your sort of far left liberalism makes me want more and more to vote against you, since by not, any thing can go, even free immigration from Mexico....lol.....

Good job, partner....

Answer 9

I've always noticed that atheists and leftists are the same way.

From that I would infer it is a POV issue

Answer 10

Yeah, and I would go beyond those you mentioned. Too many people in the American society/culture are repressed and inauthentic mask wearers.

Answer 11

That "uptightness" you mention; it's just the gallons and gallons of lots and lots of (oh, yes yum) -ever so delicious...coffee.