WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?

[BigJohn]

Being called a fundamentalist seems to be a 'catch word' that seems to be used in a derogatory way toward
others even on this forum. Even , have been called numerous times a fundamentalist.

So what is a fundamentalist and is it condemned in the Bible?

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Being called a fundamentalist seems to be a 'catch word' that seems to be used in a derogatory way toward
others even on this forum. Even , have been called numerous times a fundamentalist.

So what is a fundamentalist and is it condemned in the Bible?

Fundamentalist
/ˌfʌndəˈmɛnt(ə)lɪst/
noun
plural noun: fundamentalists
a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion.
"religious fundamentalists"
a person who adheres strictly to the basic principles of any subject or discipline.
"a free-market fundamentalist"


The Bible did not condemn but encouraged.

The worst relationship of my life was with a fundamentalist born again Baptist. At one point near the end she told me in no uncertain terms I was going to Hell unless I changed my beliefs to align with hers.

I have an independent steak several light years wide so that wasn't going to happen and certainly not through force or ultimatum.

The problem as I see it is scripture, any scripture, is open to interpretation and that's a product of a very fallible mind.

[davidmartin]

Fundamentalists killed Jesus

Originally Posted by davidmartin

Fundamentalists killed Jesus

My read is they weren't particularly religious at all and just protecting their power and position of privilege.

[Jyotir]

Believe it or not - there are true universal fundamentals regarding spirituality.

However, "fundamentalism" as called, is usually an artificially rigid and inflexible dogmatic or doctrinal adherence to theory or concept regarding those fundamentals, while avoiding and ignoring - and often, negatively judging oneself and others - regarding issues of actual practice and implementation which must account for the attendant or unavoidable conflicts, contradictions, regressions, approximations, and failings necessarily encountered within spiritual practice and progression.

It often represents a fanatical devotion not tempered by real learned experience, actual work, and dedicated service, but remains mired in the mental and theoretical aspect of devotion.

Therefore fundamentalism as a general orientation although quite easy, is inferior to WISDOM which does account for those pragmatic concerns on the spiritual path, but is therefore more difficult to acquire!

~ J


P.S. not sure why this topic necessarily relates to and was posted to the Christianity forum as it may apply to any spiritual path with codified principles and teachings.

[davidmartin]

Originally Posted by JustASimpleGuy

My read is they weren't particularly religious at all and just protecting their power and position of privilege.

i think they thought they were religious...
words can mean different things. i can imagine 'fundamentalist' quite positively but mostly it means what Jesus said 'the blind leading the blind'