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Why Are so Many Americans Fundamentalists?

Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I'm using "fundamentalist" here to include all religious groups, including Evangelicals, that more or less hew to such things as a literal interpretation of the bible, and so forth.

About 40% of Americans self-identify as Evangelicals, and probably a few more could be considered fundamentalist. Significantly, Evangelicals by all accounts, are thriving when most mainline Protestant denominations are not. All an all, these things seem unusual for advance industrial democracies.

So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?


BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
 
idav

idav

Being
Premium Member
It is quite extraordinary that a “free” country with separation of church and state as fundamental would choose theocracy. It is the fundamentalist mindset spoken of in the OP causing this. As I’ve listened to folks from abroad I’ve been surprised to find that other countries don’t have the authoritarian type of Christianity that early half of the US embraces. US is one of the last free nations to still have capital punishment next to counties like Iran and N Korea. My fear is that US wants a theocracy authoritarianism more than they want the freedom the US proclaims. Canada and the UK don’t have our fundamentalist issues to the extreme we see in the US, they have what I would call logical Christianity and even a Christ like love the neighbor type of Christianity.
i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians-your-christmas-are-so-unlike-your-christ-religion-quote.jpg
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Sunstone said:
Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...
Or, as my homeschooling material put it, when this social pendulum swings back and forth between theism and atheism. "Be not of this world" is interpreted as being more of a nod towards a life that isn't based on consumerism or caught up in fads and trends. But very much so they pray for the victories of "godly leaders" who will turn America into a land of Christian virtue and morality, and would love to see it go worldwide. Where it becomes unsettling is that they view conflict in the Middle East and Global Warming as positive signs that Jesus' return is near, and vote that way.
 
Epic Beard Man

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
Sunstone said:
So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?

BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...

Very good post!
 
Epic Beard Man

Epic Beard Man

Bearded Philosopher
idav said:
It is quite extraordinary that a “free” country with separation of church and state as fundamental would choose theocracy. It is the fundamentalist mindset spoken of in the OP causing this. As I’ve listened to folks from abroad I’ve been surprised to find that other countries don’t have the authoritarian type of Christianity that early half of the US embraces. US is one of the last free nations to still have capital punishment next to counties like Iran and N Korea. My fear is that US wants a theocracy authoritarianism more than they want the freedom the US proclaims. Canada and the UK don’t have our fundamentalist issues to the extreme we see in the US, they have what I would call logical Christianity and even a Christ like love the neighbor type of Christianity.
i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians-your-christmas-are-so-unlike-your-christ-religion-quote.jpg
Click to expand...


Quite the bias you have there! I could definitely argue otherwise
 
sandy whitelinger

sandy whitelinger

Veteran Member
Sunstone said:
I'm using "fundamentalist" here to include all religious groups, including Evangelicals, that more or less hew to such things as a literal interpretation of the bible, and so forth.

About 40% of Americans self-identify as Evangelicals, and probably a few more could be considered fundamentalist. Significantly, Evangelicals by all accounts, are thriving when most mainline Protestant denominations are not. All an all, these things seem unusual for advance industrial democracies.

So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?


BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...
Without reading your post. I'm a fundamentalist because if you don't play the game by the rules then there are no rewards.
 
Justme1981

Justme1981

Member
Sunstone said:
I'm using "fundamentalist" here to include all religious groups, including Evangelicals, that more or less hew to such things as a literal interpretation of the bible, and so forth.

About 40% of Americans self-identify as Evangelicals, and probably a few more could be considered fundamentalist. Significantly, Evangelicals by all accounts, are thriving when most mainline Protestant denominations are not. All an all, these things seem unusual for advance industrial democracies.

So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?


BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...


The reason so many Americans are Fundamentalist or Evangelical is because America is an Atheist nation and these are just Atheists hedging their bets. The rest of us in the Ancient Churches (Right Churches) know there is a God and act accordingly to understand Him and this Universe. Fundamentalist (Evangelicals) don't know if there is a God, but say, "well, if there is a God let me be part of this Church." So, they do not explore what he is doing because they do not believe in Him in so far as he exists to them is only to prevent them from going to Hell..

Look, no one is stupid. When Evangelicals vote for Trump and make something religious out of him knowing full well he is something of an antichrist they do so to further their own agenda, which is to create a nation where Christianity is no longer a Religion but a Club, Business and Political Party. All they want is a tax cut. That's it.

There is nothing hard about this. If you let your mind wander a bit you would know they don't read the Bible, they don't follow the Bible all they want is their Atheist Club, Business, and Political Party. The price of admission for them is to be Christian. Well, they are Atheists and Atheists get involved in this scam all the time.

The principle you and everyone has to live by is, "no one is stupid." If they act in ungodly ways it's because they do not believe in God and all they are doing is turning God's church into a Club, Business and Political Party.

Now, if you are from the Ancient Churches, the Right or the Six pointed Star like Buddhist, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Ancient Satanists (those are the six Ancient Churches) then you know there is a God because you see miracles.

Go to this thread right here that I wrote in Music and you will understand more, It's all Helter Skelter to them.

Misheard Lyrics, the Mumbling System and The Beatles Indictment of Fundamentalists (Evangelicals)
 
Kangaroo Feathers

Kangaroo Feathers

Yea, it is written in the Book of Cyril...
Sunstone said:
I'm using "fundamentalist" here to include all religious groups, including Evangelicals, that more or less hew to such things as a literal interpretation of the bible, and so forth.

About 40% of Americans self-identify as Evangelicals, and probably a few more could be considered fundamentalist. Significantly, Evangelicals by all accounts, are thriving when most mainline Protestant denominations are not. All an all, these things seem unusual for advance industrial democracies.

So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?


BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...
Poor education system? Left over country cousin repression from Victorian times?
 
`mud

`mud

Just old
Premium Member
Less than 15% out there have read the Bibles,
and the rest of you write the rules !
Talk about the Romans ?
I'm going to puke at the thought !
 
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sojourner

sojourner

Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
Sunstone said:
I'm using "fundamentalist" here to include all religious groups, including Evangelicals, that more or less hew to such things as a literal interpretation of the bible, and so forth.

About 40% of Americans self-identify as Evangelicals, and probably a few more could be considered fundamentalist. Significantly, Evangelicals by all accounts, are thriving when most mainline Protestant denominations are not. All an all, these things seem unusual for advance industrial democracies.

So why are so many Americans fundamentalists?


BONUS QUESTION: Fundamentalists are currently quite politically active in America, but that is most likely not a permanent development. Back before they first become active in large numbers during the Carter years (Carter as a Southern Baptist who often spoke about his faith), you could pretty much bet that, if someone was a fundamentalist, he or she was so politically inactive they did not even so much as vote.

Some historians point to the "do not be of this world", "do not be worldly", "and worldliness is spiritually corrupting", messages in the bible, and then note that fundamentalists have tended over to periodically swing back and forth between times when they adhere to those messages, and times when they don't.
Click to expand...
One theory is because we are pathologically independent. Socially, it’s become a crisis. And when you have a whole buncha people hell bent on being “independent,” you have a society that has forgotten the value of interdependence. We’re lucky, in that we have so much space here. We’re not forced to deal with each other (except in cities, whose populaces lean more progressive). Fundamentalism stems from the combination of closed social systems imbued with an independence that retards the sharing of ideas and the assimilation of new ideas.
 
metis

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
idav said:
It is quite extraordinary that a “free” country with separation of church and state as fundamental would choose theocracy. It is the fundamentalist mindset spoken of in the OP causing this. As I’ve listened to folks from abroad I’ve been surprised to find that other countries don’t have the authoritarian type of Christianity that early half of the US embraces. US is one of the last free nations to still have capital punishment next to counties like Iran and N Korea. My fear is that US wants a theocracy authoritarianism more than they want the freedom the US proclaims. Canada and the UK don’t have our fundamentalist issues to the extreme we see in the US, they have what I would call logical Christianity and even a Christ like love the neighbor type of Christianity.
i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians-your-christmas-are-so-unlike-your-christ-religion-quote.jpg
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, Gandhi's statement was due to his experience with Christian fundamentalists whom he felt were overly aggressive and seemed all too often to behave as if sinning really didn't much matter-- for them. OTOH, there were plenty of Christians who he felt very much were moral people that included many Anglicans in his experience. And while in Paris, his comments about praying in a Catholic church there were very much on the positive side.
 
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Cobol

Cobol

Code Jockey
In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. had a broad range of conservative, moderate, and liberal churches. The sorts of people who used to attend moderate and liberal churches have stopped attending entirely, or started attending conservative churches, while conservative churches have been growing. So overall, church attendance has declined even while fundamentalism is growing.

Most American believers agree more with moderate and liberal churches, those churches simply don’t offer those believers enough incentive to participate. In the 1950s, church was a community activity; no matter what you believed you went to church because church was where you chatted with the neighbors, dated, and maybe even got health insurance and a bank loan. Once church was no longer a community activity, all the people who believed they would go to Heaven whether they attended each Sunday or not simply stopped going. Church didn’t offer them much.

In contrast, conservative and fundamentalist churches have continued to gain new members because they offer believers intense emotional experiences, specific moral guidance, a feeling of belong to an exclusive group, satisfying ritual, assurance of Heaven, and enthusiastic commitment. Even though it’s counter-intuitive, groups that require more of members usually get more commitment from their members. People actually crave belonging to organizations which require them to sacrifice. Strict churches fulfill members in ways that moderate and liberal churches cannot.

People want to feel like they are special and radical fundamentalist religion, among other things, tells people that the entire Universe was created just for them, because their god cared for them that much. People would rather have pretty lies, rather than a truth that might appear more ugly.
 
G

GoodbyeDave

Well-Known Member
It goes back a long way. New England in particular was colonised by fundamentalists.
Boston martyrs - Wikipedia
and attitudes never changed
Know Nothing - Wikipedia
All that's happened is that the spread of education has confined it to the less civilised areas.

If the US constitution enshrined religious freedom, it was because non-Christians who drew it up (Madison, Jefferson, Franklin, etc) wanted to protect themselves!
 
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