Duh? What's fundie?
The Tragedy of Fundamentalism (WARNING to all Pharisees! LARGE PRINT!)
by Geronimo 32 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Geronimo
Hello ArthurGeronimo; are you trying to stir the pot? It's very difficult for me to believe that this thread was intended as a means of honest, mature, and rational debate. From the tone of your statements; it appears as though you wanted to start a fight.
I take issue with your statements; not because I am a fundamentalits, but because you have made very broad, sweeping generalizations of Christian fundamentalists. You also were quite insulting to them as well. Personally, I disagree with many Christian fundamentalists, but at the same time, I respect the personal dignity that should be afforded to them on this site. You wrote:
Second, they embrace the same "us versus them" mentality. This is a common trait of memes, of mental "viruses." They engenger murders, cruelty, savagery, injustice, and all manner of evil.
Oh? Is this really so? Could you provide some kind of data or evidence to back up these fantastic claims? These are very antagonistic, emotionally charged words which do nothing to disprove the fundamentalist; but instead makes you look like a demagogue and a fool.
You also wrote:
These pitiful "born again" creatures are still frightened of the world and the universe and still feel ill at ease in the world, just as they did when they were JWs.
Again, can you provide case studies? Data? Can you provide anything but rhetoric? I don't think you can. It appears that this thread was intended as a childish attention-grabbing scheme, and an attempt to poke certain people in the eye.
Using sweeping generalizations, sloganeering, name-calling, and emotionally charged cliches does nothing to stimulate an honest and mature debate. Your thread does nothing to discredit those individuals on this site that you have a bizarre pet peeve towards. Instead, it reveals your incapability to participate in rational and coherent debate.
Please quit insulting individuals on this site. If you want to debate certain theology; then debate. Don't diatribe. It just makes you look childish and gives the rest of us a headache.
Yes, I was in a negative frame of mind when I wrote this email post. My older sister, Jill, will jave nothing to do with me whatsoever because she is a born-again fundy. Neither will her children, my nephews.
As to case studies and data of the sort of person attracted to fundie religion, there is much available, even online. I would suggest a Google seacrh under "the psychology of fundamentalism" or a browse throuhg Amazon. Whejn I left the JWs I had five or six books of this nature. The info is out there Arthur.
Yes, I am using sweeping generalizations because I wish to point out the behavior and thought of these people as a group, not as individuals. As you know, most studies of this sort seek the common denominators of a group of people in an effort to find what it is about them that draws them to anti-world groups. Surely, you're aware of the anti-world attiides of the JWs? You need only walk inside a Evangelical Christian Bookstore and observe the plethora of "end of the world" materials. Books about Armageddon, the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, all are best sellers. While books exploring the Sermon on the Mount collect dust.
I do not respect the "dignity" of fundamentalists because they do not respect mine. As a group, they attemtp to force their religion upon me via legislation. They wish to impose their beliefs upon me and other Americans. I do not respect that, nor the mentality that brings it about.
I do not believe you that you are unaware of the "us versus them" mentality that typifies the fundamentalist mind. Again, a quick Google search will turn up plenty of academic studies in this area. Plus, you need only read a few of the super-popular books such as thre "Left Behind" series to see how fully embraced such a mindset is.
I bear you no ill will Arthur, but I do see the former JWs here who have opted for Jehovah B over Jehovah A as sad examples of some basic lack in their psychological make-up.
As to stirring the pot, yes I am. I enjoy a good debate and nothing leads to a good debate better than stirring the pot. If I am a demagogue and a fool, you are someone who jumps in without having loaded their pistol. All of your objections have been answered thorougly many times by academics.
Take care Arthur. The weather here is gorgeous. I'm going to go outside and enjoy God's Temple. G -
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Geronimo
LMFAO Avengers! What a marvelously quizzical mule! Thanks for the guffaw! G
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Deputy Dog
My older sister, Jill, will jave nothing to do with me whatsoever because she is a born-again fundy. Neither will her children, my nephews.
I wonder why -
Geronimo
Hello again Arthur
Here's a link to get you started in understanding Fundamentalists as a GROUP. Social psychology or simply sociology.http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/mine/quotes.htm
Take care Arthur. G -
Arthur
As to stirring the pot, yes I am. I enjoy a good debate and nothing leads to a good debate better than stirring the pot. If I am a demagogue and a fool, you are someone who jumps in without having loaded their pistol. All of your objections have been answered thorougly many times by academics.
All of my objections? My biggest objection was to the very insulting language that was directed toward so called fundamentalists who post on this site. Name calling and ad hominem attacks toward people on this site has nothing to do with academic studies.
Christian fundamentalists are not as monolithic as you and I may think. I know some personally; and they are quite kind and pleasant. Other ones I met, on the other hand came across as mean, condescending, and narrow-minded. I think that a person's personality and individual make-up has a lot to do with their world-view. Personally, I would agree with many assertions about Christian fundamentalism having certain antagonistic views toward other religions, and toward scientific discovery; but this is not an adequate reason to believe that all of them as idividuals deserve such viceral personal attacks.
I could probably name off about a dozen posters on this site that consider themselves fundamentalists. They do not all think and speak in lock-step conformity. I have had debates and discussions with several of them on this site. We have respectfully disagreed on many issues from gay marriage; to Biblical inerrancy. These individuals on this site seem to be kind, decent, and respectful toward my views. I take issue with the vitriolic languae that was directed toward them. I don't think that they deserved it. And when people on this site seek to make cheap personal attacks against them; I will call them on it.
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Geronimo
Dearest ArthurAll of my objections? My biggest objection was to the very insulting language that was directed toward so called fundamentalists who post on this site. Name calling and ad hominem attacks toward people on this site has nothing to do with academic studies.
Christian fundamentalists are not as monolithic as you and I may think. I know some personally; and they are quite kind and pleasant. Other ones I met, on the other hand came across as mean, condescending, and narrow-minded. I think that a person's personality and individual make-up has a lot to do with their world-view. Personally, I would agree with many assertions about Christian fundamentalism having certain antagonistic views toward other religions, and toward scientific discovery; but this is not an adequate reason to believe that all of them as idividuals deserve such viceral personal attacks.
I could probably name off about a dozen posters on this site that consider themselves fundamentalists. They do not all think and speak in lock-step conformity. I have had debates and discussions with several of them on this site. We have respectfully disagreed on many issues from gay marriage; to Biblical inerrancy. These individuals on this site seem to be kind, decent, and respectful toward my views. I take issue with the vitriolic languae that was directed toward them. I don't think that they deserved it. And when people on this site seek to make cheap personal attacks against them; I will call them on it.
All of your substantive objections as to my descriptions of fundamentalism and fundamentalists have indeed been answered. You need only peruse the literature. Though not "monolithic" they do indeed dispaly many common characteristics, and you know this as well as I do. You've taken a dislike to me and wish to make this into an argument. Arthur, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ALL FUNDAMENTALISTS DISPLAY ALL OF THE VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS. M'k? Sociology and social psychology are about groups, not isolated individuals.
You may take issue with my vitriolic language all you like. I confront fundies on a daily basis and find them most unpleasnt. I especially object to their actions in enforcing their religion on the public at large. I do not "respect" (That means to look up to, to hold in high esteem) such actions nor the people from whome these attitudes andf actions emanate. I simply tolerate them.
You seem a decent sort Arthur, but I am not about to alter my ways for you any more than you're about to alter yours for me. You are now one of my Special Friends. G -
Geronimo
Also, Arthur, although my post seems like I am singling out the posters here that are Fundies, I am not. I began the post that way, and then veered off into the fundie world in general. I should have made that more apparent, but I didn't. So, to Arthur and any fundamentalists who may read this "My post is not directed at you personally, but to the wider world of fundamentalism." G
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jwfacts
Considering every religion requires faith, in other words, a belief in something that can not be proven, I find it very disturbing when people become judgemental fundamentalists. I have to agree that any religion that teaches a God who will burn in Hell forever some poor soul that lived in a part of the world with no access to the Bible is every bit as vindictive and manipulative as the WTS.
