If you truly believed in god, why wouldn't you be a fundie?

Question

First of all, I feel I must point out that I'm an atheist. I must point this out because it seems whenever I ask a question from someone else's point of view a lot of people assume it's my point of view.

Ok then...

Now, if you truly believe in god, that's a really big deal. That's the kind of thing I don't think I would be half-@ssed about. If I believed that god was the reason for everything, then god would have to be the focal point of my life. My entire existence would have to revolve around my god.

So I guess what I'm trying to ask is...

How can you be moderate in your religion? Isn't it an all-or-nothing affair?

Answer 1

First off, you might want to seperate God and Religion. Fundies are religion extremists.

Belief in God doesnt create extremists. Quite the opposite in my experience. But religion... the setting of rules and guidelines and "us" vs "them", the "we are correct" attitude, can definetly get out of hand. Some people tend to have more faith in their religion than they do in their god.

However I should also point out that Ive seen the same tendencies it people who have "faith" in science or who "preach" atheism. Im not saying that either of those are wrong. Just that Ive seen some fanatical fundies for both that didnt help the cause much.

"Organized religion can get in the way of being religious." - Gandalf Parker

Answer 2

True. I agree that if I believed in God (which I don't) I would have to try my best to obey the letter of God's law. I think this is why atheists spend so much time asking fundies how they know they picked the correct set of laws. Even assuming God exists, what evidence is there supporting the claim that any specific religion is more "valid" than another?

Of course, this argument doesn't seem to give fundies any reason to doubt. But then, if a person is credulous enough to believe there is an all-powerful creator who takes personal interest in their lives, there doesn't seem to be any reason to expect that they won't also assume they have the best path to God.

I guess I understand their zeal, but not their lack of critical thought.

*Edit* -- I wandered away from the original question. Yeah, I don't really understand how liberal and moderate religious folks can justify some of their religious beliefs on scripture and make up the rest as they go. You'd think they'd realize that either their church is correct all the time, or it is too flawed to base "salvation" upon. I don't understand why people who think their church/ scripture is only right when they agree with it, don't just become Deists or agnostics and leave organized religion alone.

Answer 3

Speaking for me, a deist, I think there is a God but all religions are man made dogma.

My focal point is my life. We come here for a reason. We desire to educate our souls. We make these plans with our loved ones and God while we are still on the other side. once we get here we are on our own.

I don't see God as an insecure megalomaniac like that fictional biblical monster.

I also believe that most souls cross over. No religion is required. The souls that do not cross go right back in-utero for this here is hell.


There is no reason to associate God with a man made religion.

Answer 4

Excellent point. If all Christians truly believed in the Bible, the world would be much different than it is today. Women would no longer be able to speak inside a church (let alone be doctors and lawyers, etc.). The Bible makes it clear that woman’s sole purpose is to bare children and she is definitely inferior to men. When a man discovered that his wife was not capable of having children, he would instantly divorce her and find a new wife. Slavery would not have ended. There would be no death penalty in any state. No businesses whatsoever (including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) would be open on Sunday……the list goes on and on.

Answer 5

I totally agree. I asked a similar question: why don't all Christians become priests or nuns or monks or the equivalent? The answers I often got were that not everyone is a leader. I say they are not really committed to it. I'm not saying that in jest, I really believe that most don't have the commitment to really sign up for what they believe and that they do talk the talk but they don't walk the walk.

Answer 6

My father-in-law is a Methodist Minister. He believes in god, however he says that the bible is just stories meant to teach a lesson and should not be taken litterally.

He's a good intelligent man whom I respect, even if I don't agree with his view on gods.

Answer 7

I dont believe so
I believe in God because God fits into my beliefs
I dont believe in a God that needs praise and worship
I dont believe in a hands on God
I believe in an energy , a source
I believe in a God who has left us to our own devices
why spend our life worshipping and praising and not living ?

why would we be given a life if not to live it here and now and make the most of it and learn from it and experience it ?

Answer 8

Well, even the fundamentalists rationalize and cherry-pick the portions of the bible they choose to believe. IE, supporting war and the death penalty is in direct contradiction with the bible. As is voting against social programs to help the poor.

I respect the christians who embody the spirit of the bible and believe in love peace and tolerance much more so than the people who take it so literally, and use it to excuse bigotry, hatred, and war.

Answer 9

To me, a fundie is one of those crazies that holds signs saying 'your going to hell' and they bother people all the time. I believe in God, but it is not my job nor my right to say if your going to hell. If you ask about God Ill tell you, if you dont want to hear it I wont chase you away by making you listen.

Answer 10

Well maybe your god doesn't want you to be a fundie. Maybe he wants you to just get on with life while he sits back with a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate watching the show.