Author Topic: Fundie vs. Fundamentalist  (Read 3056 times)

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Offline Witchyjoshy

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Fundie vs. Fundamentalist
« on: June 24, 2013, 01:36:58 pm »
Since this is kinda a sermon on my own personal opinion on the matter, and I'm going to be a little preachy, I felt like putting it here instead of Religion and Philosphy because... well... stuff.

What is a fundie?  Is it a fundamentalist?  Well, yes and no.

Being a fundamentalist can be boiled down to believing in the fundamentals of an ideal, philosophy, or religion, and sticking to those fundamentals stubbornly.  This isn't always a negative thing.  You can be a fundamentalist and not be a fundie.  Hell, I know conservative Christians who can be called fundamentalists and yet are decent people.  Because they actually believe in the values that they view as fundamental, including charity.

Being a fundie, however, is when you place your ideals, your philosophies, or your religion on a pedestal to the point where you expect others to value them the same way you do.  And that if anyone disagrees with you, they are wrong and need to be taught a lesson.

Fundamentalists are generally more open to discussion.  They aren't going to change their opinions about their beliefs, but they will engage in a (relatively) fair discussion, and are more likely to end it with a "Let's agree to disagree."  A fundie will declare themselves the winner 5 seconds in and insist that any argumentation against them is other people being sore losers.

And so forth.  Fundamentalism, like socialism, is not an inherently negative thing.  It's not an inherently positive thing, either, also like socialism.  And there are good things to be fundamentalist about, like charity, racial and gender equality, and so forth.  Holding those values as fundamental is good.  Being a fundie, however, is inherently negative.  Forcing your values on other people, even if it's about world peace (or rather, ESPECIALLY if it's about world peace) is a very, very negative thing.

And that's Brother Silveresti's sermon of the daymonthyear.
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Offline anti-nonsense

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Re: Fundie vs. Fundamentalist
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2013, 02:09:59 pm »
Problem with a lot of (Christian) fundamentalists is that their idea of the fundamentals is "hurr durr gay people, science, and women are bad" instead of what Jesus supposedly said were the fundamentals "Love your neighbour as you love yourself". If "fundamentalists" actually followed that part of the bible, I wouldn't have nearly as many problems with them.
From international relations to religious rivalries, from marriage to athlete's foot, whatever the problem a fundy's first solution is usually violence.

Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: Fundie vs. Fundamentalist
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2013, 02:34:17 pm »
Hence my point about fundamentalism not being an inherently positive thing, either.  You can be fundamentalist about some stupid things.  Doesn't mean you're a fundie, but it's still a negative.
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Offline Old Viking

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Re: Fundie vs. Fundamentalist
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2013, 05:59:17 pm »
I like the distinction in an academic way.  It may be a trifle fine for real life situations, however.  I find it annoying to have to think before I speak.
I am an old man, and I've seen many problems, most of which never happened.

Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: Fundie vs. Fundamentalist
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2013, 06:05:09 pm »
I find it annoying to have to think before I speak.

Don't we all?
Mockery of ideas you don't comprehend or understand is the surest mark of unintelligence.

Even the worst union is better than the best Walmart.

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