Have you ever thought about the similarities between political and religious fundamentalism?
Think about it. Political fundamentalism has a “take no prisoners” attitude when it comes to government. Whether at the federal or state level, political fundamentalists believe their way is the only way. They see compromise as a sellout. They believe government is the enemy because it functions by compromise, and promotes tolerance and diversity.
Religious fundamentalism has a similar attitude. Religious fundamentalists (I am speaking of Christians, but the same is true for members of other faiths) believe their way is the only way, whether it’s reading the Bible, views of morality, or understandings of God and Jesus. They dislike liberals as much as political fundamentalists do because they believe liberals are anti-God.
It is easy to see why these two groups got together in the late 70’s when the Moral Majority was founded, and why religious fundamentalists have become a rock solid base for political fundamentalists. They see the world through the same lens. They think in black and white terms. Reality is what they say it is, regardless of facts to the contrary.
It is also easy to see why political and religious fundamentalism appeals to a minority of people. Most people are not fundamentalists. They are not extremists. Most people understand that life is ambiguous and that issues are often not simple. They know reality is not black and white, and that no one way is ever the only way.
Sometimes it seems like political and religious fundamentalists are running the world. What we need to remember is that they aren’t. They make a lot of noise and cause a lot of headaches, but they don’t run the world because they are always represent a small group with a point of view that offends most people.
Fundamentalism has a place in the modern world, but it is never going to rule the world. It can and does make mischief, but over the long haul it gets exposed for what it is and then rejected.
So politicians and religious leaders who jump on one or both of these bandwagons will one day end up in the ditch because the wheels have come off, just they have every time in the past. It’s an sort of unofficial axiom of life that people who hate and promote hate, divide and promote division, one day undo themselves and end up on the dung heap of history. It’s only a matter of when.
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So glad you wrote this one, Jan! I have studied fundamentalism and extremism and never can quite articulate it in conversation. You did it very well!! And good to hear they are still a minority, but scares the Jeebies out of me in the way they each make a mark on politics. It is also hard being labeled anti-Christian for having liberal (what would Jesus do) principles! Totally agree with your reality check comment!!! YES!!!
Agreed. Well said!
A former Priest in our church, Fr. Arthur Dean, had a sage piece of advice for us when he gave his first sermon in 1995. He said to us that: “…We’re bidden to be followers of God. You can always run ahead of God if you want to, but if you do – you’re out there on your own”. And that’s where the fundamentalists Jan writes about go disastrously wrong, since the emphasis with fundamentalism seems to be all about judgement, to the expense and exclusion of the very concept of service. Yes, fundmentalists on both sides of the pond can pass judgement as much as they like, but as for me, I choose to follow a God that loves – and serves (Luke’s Gospel ch. 22, v. 27).
True that!
Most people are not uber libreals; they are not far left radicals. People do not believe in extreme views and behaviors espoused by some far left people, those who think THEY know how everyone must think, believe, and act. Those people tend to shove their beliefs down everybody else’s throat; they even sometimes run a country. These far out liberals base their beliefs on their FEELINGS alone and do not see the consequences of their false beliefs. Liberalism has its place in the modern world, but it needs to be reigned in because of its radicalism.
To Marvin & Elaine:
I respectfully submit that the words liberals, left, liberalism could be replaced in your comment by conservatives, right, & conservatism respectively and your comment would still be true. I think the American people, by & large are neither far left liberal nor far right conservative, we are basically pretty close to centrists at heart. Unfortunately, the extremes on either end make the most noise and get the most press.
It is interesting to see the comparison drawn between religious and political fundamentalism. I think that parallel is correctly drawn. I think rationalism is a much better approach than fundamentalism in any endeavor.