Christians, are you willing to take a stand against fundamentalism and extremism?

Question

(Oh yay, I have a cause.)

Seriously, don't you ever watch some of these fundamentalists on television spouting hate in the name of your savior, and get all worked up and angered by it? Or watch the politicians who have equated Christianity with radical right-wing conservatism and twisted it from a faith to a policy? I certainly do.

I think that more of us need to take a stand for our beliefs -- not to say that fundamentalists don't have the right to believe as they should, but to separate ourselves and remind these guys that Jesus preached about love -- not hate, or intolerance, or lobbyism.

Anybody with me?

Poseidon, I'm really not trying to be intolerant. Honestly. I'm just tired of having their silliness reflected on me, because we happen to fall under the same religious label.

Chris -- Of course you count!

Opinionated -- you don't know the definition of lukewarm.

Heretic, at least once, every day I come to Answers.

Hugs back - aww, thanks, you're my favorite atheist. Well ... the prettiest, at least. LOL

Answer 1

Absolutely. I think of the words of John Michael Talbot, who wrote this:

'We are rooted deeply in gospel fundamentals given us by Jesus and the Apostles, but we are not to be fundamentalists. One responds to the problems of the world and the Church with great love, patience, and steady perseverance. The other reacts with a sort of short-circuiting of both thought and emotions through an almost compulsive and paranoid preoccupation with "orthodoxy." It "misses the forest for the trees" so to speak. Genuine orthodoxy is meant to guide us to and deeper in God, not to be a god. One is healthy and life giving, the other strangles the spiritual life out of even orthodox belief and practice. Such an approach becomes a sort of inverted idolatry, making a god out of the otherwise good things of God. '

Answer 2

I think you are confusing extremism and fundamentalism. The word fundamentalism has earned a negative connotation, but was simply intended as a response to religious liberalism. An extremist would be somebody that shoots an abortionist in the name of life, a fundamentalist is someone who insists on doing Christianity the way the scriptures say.

Answer 3

I'm with you all the way. Extremism on either end isn't good, but I don't like the radical right hijacking our country and its freedoms. They have no right to force their beliefs on us. I'm an Episcopalian, and I've had some "Christians" tell me I'm going to hell since I was baptized as a baby and confirmed (my choice) at 13. I don't care how someone worships and I would never force anyone to worship the way I do. However, I get the feeling that SOME fundamentalists would like everyone to worship as they do.

Answer 4

I agree with you totally. We have been silent far too long. As a pastor, I find myself having to counter the ideas of Pat Robertson, James Dobson (not a preacher, but of the same ilk), Tim LaHaye, D. James Kennedy, the late Jerry Falwell, and so many others. It's not easy, because it's so pervasive in our society, but I do my best.

An excellent book dealing with some of the "end times" teachings of LaHaye and the like is "The Rapture Exposed" by Dr. Barbara Rossing. I highly recommend it. Another good book is "Religion Gone Bad" by Mel White.

Answer 5

I do not think the vast majority of christians are hating anyone or perceive their actions to be hateful. Christianity is a religion which necessitates the belief in a certain set of beliefs and therefore a rejection of others. For example christianity states there is one God and only one God. For a christian this is true and they do not believe that there are other gods. I do not think it is an act of hate to not accept other gods but merely an act of intellectual honesty for a christian.

Christianity holds a certain set of statements to be true, objectively true, and therefore others to be false. Because of THAT many people attack christianity.

Tolerance shouldn't include a rejection of one's personal beliefs because someone else doesn't agree with them. Tolerance is an open discussion of issues and beliefs, in a rational, compassionate, understanding manner each respecting what another believes.

Only God can condemn anyone to hell. However christianity does say that human beings are able to do wrong. Most people are fine with the bibles condemnation of murder and lies etc..but have issues with other things, particularly lifestyle choices. One should inquire as to why that is?

I do not think it is acceptable to FORCE anyone to believe in anything, though, I really have never seen a christian do this. Open discussion of issues and beliefs is a good thing in my opinion.

There is much to be said about this. Far too much to write about in this small venue. Overall, I think ignorance exists in many circles, religious or not. But I do agree that many christians do need reform in a variety of ways and on a variety of levels, but I would extend that to nearly every group of people out there!

Answer 6

Hey, sanity! I love it.

And look, no snarky answers yet from anyone. Isn't it amazing how people can be reasonable when a reasonable question is posted?

The problem is, we're just too moderate and tolerant to stand up and be radical and intolerant. :-)

Here's the thing I'm really tired of: The right-wingers going on and on and on and on and on about homosexuality and abortion, while ignoring the number one issue in the Bible: social and economic justice. If they put all that energy into fighting against poverty and hunger, we might actually be able to accomplish something.

OK--that was a very long way of saying, "I'm with you!"

Answer 7

You can't say all Fundamentalists are extremists because
they are not. As long as the stand they take is Holy Bible
based, then that is not hate or intolerance speech. Jesus
preached about love, but He also called some people a
brood of vipers and had a list of wrongdoings such as
homosexuality, gossipers, murderers, etc. Just read it
for yourself, as it's in the Book.

Answer 8

I am though I am a devote of Krishna (also known as Jehovah, who believes in Jesus. Read The Gospel of the Nazirenes to get the real scoop before King Constantine changed the bible and added Paul's teachings, who was an extremest who never even met Jesus. Google gospelofthenazirens.com for the original new testament. Krishna, Jehovah, Allah, Vishnu, Etc.) One God with many names many traditions. Your God is my God. World Peace!

Answer 9

I am with you. I try to gently promote acceptance of differning religious belifes. I follow the christian path but am so tolerant that I may not fit most peoples defintition of a "true christian"

I see Jesus was a religious rebel who promoted people personally seeking God and purpose, rather than relying on the religious institutions of the day to establish and enforce neat and tidy rules of what is and is not acceptable what people should and should not do.

His message was to love God and love man the rest is details.

Answer 10

That's one of the reasons why so many Non-Christians generalize. For all of the talk I have seen from some Christians about how Muslims are silent about the violence that some Fanatic Muslims do in the name of their religion, it makes me wonder.... How can they continue to ignore the violence that is done within Christianity by those claiming to be Christian? Saying that they aren't "True Christians" does nothing for the problem except show a lot of us Non's that they don't feel it's their duty to correct those people... makes it easy for them to ignore it all together.

Agreed, fundamentalists have a right to believe as they want... they do not, however, have the right to harm others because they don't believe like they do. This is what should be spoken out against. Several of my friends who are Christian (by believing in Jesus Christ) have dropped the label Christian all together because of the fanaticism that seems to be rampant among certain sects within the religion itself. I can't say I blame them... I certainly wouldn't want to be seen in the same light as Westboro or Robertson or any of the faith healers that are out for the money or those people who blow up abortion clinics while screaming "Thou Shalt not Kill" meanwhile they've killed a few doctors and women in the clinic itself.