Fundamentalist (beliefs, bible, Christians, Christ, religion)

[Nick Soapdish]

What do you think of when you hear the word "fundamentalist"?

There is no doubt that this word has a negative connotation these days and I was curious what people's thoughts are on it.

I would consider myself a "fundamentalist" because I believe in the fundamentals of my religion. How does that differ from someone who is Christian, but not a "fundamentalist"?

[Nanda]

When I hear fundamentalist, the first thing that comes to my mind are fundamentalist Christians, taking every word of the bible as a literal truth. And I have to admit, that worries me some. Am I wrong in this estimation?

[Nick Soapdish]

Originally Posted by Nanda

When I hear fundamentalist, the first thing that comes to my mind are fundamentalist Christians, taking every word of the bible as a literal truth. And I have to admit, that worries me some. Am I wrong in this estimation?

I don't think there are any wrong answers to the question

So if someone believes that there are parts of the Bible that were meant to be metaphorical or poetic (and not literal), yet they still believed that it is entirely inspired by God, would they be considered fundamentalist in your estimation?

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by atofel

I don't think there are any wrong answers to the question

So if someone believes that there are parts of the Bible that were meant to be metaphorical or poetic (and not literal), yet they still believed that it is entirely inspired by God, would they be considered fundamentalist in your estimation?

It isn't up to me to define people's beliefs for them. It would all depend on whether they consider themselves to be fundamentalist or not. Or maybe it would be up to others who consider themselves to be fundamentalists to come up with a general concensus on the definition of what it is to be a fundamentalist.

[Nick Soapdish]

Originally Posted by Nanda

It isn't up to me to define people's beliefs for them.

I agree.

I am just wondering about the label people use and what it means.

[standing_on_one_foot]

I tend to associate it with people who believe the Bible is a historical record and word-for-word literally true. Not merely inspired but pretty much dictated. I also tend to associate it with extremists with a decided tendency towards the right. If you were to describe someone as a moderate fundamentalist it would get my attention.

[Colabomb]

The original Christian fundementalists, were actually named after a two book set called "The fundementalists". These books were a compilation of tracts.

Basically, a fundementalist was a Christian who held to the teachings of those tracts.

Although most people use the term fundementalist differently than it originally was intended.

[Zephyr]

Heh, note my religion title.

I generally use fundamental to mean something like "really literal". Sort of like an extra-intense whatever-you-are.