The Heresy of Fundamentalism

[Nonson]

Christian Fundamentalism Exposed

Fundamentalist religion is pure politics and has nothing to with Jesus, love, or reason. It is about the "status quo," religious and and racial intolerance. In many cases religious fundamentalists are hostile to democracy, social equality, and progress. Unless one understands Calvinist/Protestant ideals on matters such as predestination, end times theology, or fundamentalist hatred of education, one will never begin to understand Appalachian poverty. What is most shocking is less than 10% of evangelicals have even read the Bible and thus keep falling prey to con-men and self-appointed messiahs out for a fast dollar.

Like almost everything else in Appalachian culture, the Bible plays a part in how many people think.


Most people may not know it, but the Protestant version of the Christian religion is split over more things than just how to read the Bible. They can be split into two broad groups:

(1) The death of Jesus on the Cross is a symbol of love by God who was willing to sacrifice His Son to show that love. His sacrifice was a symbol of love and forgiveness, and those were also the words of Jesus and what he stood for. These folks may/may not agree on issues such as abortion or homosexuality but are more "liberal" (I don't mean socialist) on many issues. Many of the best parts of our society , including civil rights, comes from this Christian tradition. These folks usually have a positive outlook on life.

OR

(2) Humans are by nature evil, wicked, born into sin and must be controlled at all times. They see God as an angry judge, ready to hand down swift punishment for the smallest infraction of His/their Laws. This is best symbolized by the Flood in Genesis or Sodom and Gomorra. Some of these folks may go as far as advocate the death penalty for abortion and homosexuality. Their version of God is utterly devoid of reason, love, or compassion in many cases. They simply follow "faith only" and ignore anything Jesus said as they prefer the Apostle Paul (Romans), Revelations, and the harshest sections of the Old Testament. There is often an element of racism, social, and religious intolerance. Most view life as a struggle and have a negative outlook.

Considering the fact that the deadliest cults as far life lost in recent times have been Christian, ( the Branch Divideans, Jim Jones Temple, and a recent cult that left over 1000 dead in Uganda), Christians need to be aware that because somebody is waving a Bible doesn't mean they bring good news. Finally, much of what fundamentalists try to pass off as Christian was concocted in the 19th century using methods closer to New Age Religion and the occult than traditional Christian teachings.

There is nothing wrong with the Christian faith, it's only as good as those who preach it. Using it just to control others, to trample their rights, or to justify evil poisons the faith and worse of all isn't what Jesus is supposed to be about. Be a Christian, but an enlightened, informed Christian.

What is a fundamentalist? Some of those who call themselves fundamentalist claim they believe in a "literal" interpretation of the Bible. Yet, according to Chattanooga-based American Rights Coalition whose cardboard copy of the Ten Commandments decorate numerous lawns in Sullivan County, less than 1 percent of adults and teen-agers in "conservative Bible-believing churches could name the Ten Commandments." What is even more troubling, other surveys show less than 10% of evangelicals have read the Bible at all. How the heck can someone who has never read the Bible claim to a be "Biblical literalist?"

Fundamentalism is meaningless in this context.

Today something is terribly wrong in much of the Christian Community. The poor are held in contempt, rivers of hate and venom flow from the pulpit while reactionary politics have taken the place of Scripture. Whole volumes are devoted to attacking science (biology, physics, geology) while the mention of Jesus is rarely heard above the racket. Heresy, right-wing paranoia, and New Age religion have replaced Christian tradition while churches and clergy who should know better sit in silence and apathy. We must seperate what is traditional Christianity away from the occult. (Sullivan)


Nonson