Everyone is a fundamentalist Something

[didaskalos]

This is often a remark I make to atheists who have a ball putting down "fundies."

Everybody is a fundamentalist something. Even a fundamentalist atheist!

Everyone believes that what they believe is the absolute truth... if they did not, they would change what they believe.

People have no choice but to believe the truth that they come across. They do not decide to believe one thing or another by rational means or force of will. You cannot wake up one morning and decide you are going to start believing or stop believing anything. You are quite at the mercy of the truth that you discover. Belief is determined not by the believer, but by the source of the information and the integrity of that source.

Faith happens... there is nothing that you can do about it.

Welcome to the fundie camp!

[ChrisB]

I agree absolutely - this is where the "many paths to God" argument fails. If you believe in any faith logically you must believe it is the absolute truth or else why would you believe it.......

[Blade]

Everyone believes that what Blade believe is the absolute truth...
Welcome to the fundie camp!Thank you for the truth...:clap: :wave:

Sorry, but you are so right. One body one little cell but a needed one or link in a very never ending chain.

[Koey]

...Everybody is a fundamentalist something....You are so right. I believe I am the ultimate fundamentalist. Some would call me liberal perhaps. Yet I believe that many fundamentalists are liberals for inventing lists of do's and don'ts that the Bible does not have.

So what is my definition of an ultimate fundamentalist? If the New Testament specifically commands something, I am dogmatic about it. If the NT teaches a principle, I am dogmatic about it. If the NT does not specifically prohibit or command something yet I do, I am no longer a fundamentalist, but a liberal.

So, by my definition to prohibit birthdays, dancing, makeup, buttons, moderate consumption of alcohol, music, and a hundred other things that some fundamentalist churches prohibit makes them liberal not fundamentalist.

So, now that you're either totally confusicated, or totally mad at me. Have a nice day :)

[Duggie]

[didaskalos] Everyone believes that what they believe is the absolute truth... if they did not, they would change what they believe.
Unfortunately this is why we have so many disputes leading to wars and mass killings. Trying to convince a child born in Saudia Arabia that they should become born again because their faith will not lead to eternal salvation would be very difficult. Would you consider converting to Islam after everything you know about Jesus?


People have no choice but to believe the truth that they come across. They do not decide to believe one thing or another by rational means or force of will. You cannot wake up one morning and decide you are going to start believing or stop believing anything. very true, however you can be born into a family that believes in a certain religion and you can almost become indoctrinated from birth into believing the same faith as your parents. A Christian father and mother will raise their child in a Christian home with a Christian Identity.


You are quite at the mercy of the truth that you discover. Belief is determined not by the believer, but by the source of the information and the integrity of that source.
Faith happens... there is nothing that you can do about it.

Again very true!!! :)

[WolfGate]

You are so right. I believe I am the ultimate fundamentalist. Some would call me liberal perhaps. Yet I believe that many fundamentalists are liberals for inventing lists of do's and don'ts that the Bible does not have.

So what is my definition of an ultimate fundamentalist? If the New Testament specifically commands something, I am dogmatic about it. If the NT teaches a principle, I am dogmatic about it. If the NT does not specifically prohibit or command something yet I do, I am no longer a fundamentalist, but a liberal.

So, by my definition to prohibit birthdays, dancing, makeup, buttons, moderate consumption of alcohol, music, and a hundred other things that some fundamentalist churches prohibit makes them liberal not fundamentalist.

So, now that you're either totally confusicated, or totally mad at me. Have a nice day :)Koey - don't want to scare you, but I essentially agree with you! The main addition I would make is this: If the NT does not specifically prohibit something but it either interferes with my walk with Christ or someone else's walk with Christ, then I am dogmatic it should not be done.

That can be a bit gray. For example, I don't have a problem with drinking small amounts of alcohol. So I will. However, I know Christians whom that bothers tremedously and I know people who struggle with drinking too much. So, I won't drink even one drink around them.

And I think that is very fundamentalist, supported by 1 Cor.

Finally, I also believe that I am wrong in some of my beliefs - I just don't know which ones! So on issues of doctrine, if someone prayfully comes to a different point of view than I on those things that are open to interpretation, then that doesn't phase me. None of us are wise enough to be right on every doctrine.

[Koey]

I don't want to scare you either, but I agree with everything you said. LOL. Wow! I didn't expect such a good response. I was expecting to get flamed.

[praying]

Yes I am fundamentally liberal :P

mhatten( who could not resist :sorry: )

[BarbB]

Yes I am fundamentally liberal :P

mhatten( who could not resist :sorry: )

So according to Koey, you don't wear buttons? :P

And Koey - I am totally confusicated! What a great word! :D

[Koey]

So according to Koey, you don't wear buttons? :P

And Koey - I am totally confusicated! What a great word! :D
Hey, I love words. LOL. I guess you could call me liberally fundamental. By the way, it's the Amish that don't wear buttons. They claim they are "vain" and so only wear a hook-and-eye type doohickiewhatsit. Now that's a real liberal interpretation of the Bible for ya -- or is that an interputation?

[Blessed-one]

good one!