Comments on: The Rise of Fundamentalism http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/ Random wonderings about God and Life Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:53:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Rupert Ward http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-437 Rupert Ward Tue, 19 Dec 2006 01:22:35 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-437 You may be right alastair, but I think we need to get smarter about the way we talk about our faith. I think the main thing that is going to be increasingly difficult in the future is dogmatic presentations: we are right, you are wrong, we are good, you are bad. So I think we need to find ways of talking about Jesus that presents Him to others, but we don't need to criticise what others believe to do that. When people meet Jesus, old believes will change anyway ... You may be right alastair, but I think we need to get smarter about the way we talk about our faith. I think the main thing that is going to be increasingly difficult in the future is dogmatic presentations: we are right, you are wrong, we are good, you are bad. So I think we need to find ways of talking about Jesus that presents Him to others, but we don’t need to criticise what others believe to do that. When people meet Jesus, old believes will change anyway …

]]> By: Alastair http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-436 Alastair Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:37:43 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-436 So where does the current PC (politically correct) movement fit into this? There appears to be a synergy between secular fundamentalism and the PC brigade. Personally I believe "PC" is the new religion of Britain. You can have whatever "faith" you want, as long as you are "PC". 'Jesus is the way', that's not PC anymore. I'm surprised the name of Jesus itself hasn't been banned yet, no doubt it is considered offensive by some Jew or Hindu (or even a Muslim!). The two-handed sword of PC and secular fundamentalism is going to be a big problem for the church this decade, IMHO. So where does the current PC (politically correct) movement fit into this? There appears to be a synergy between secular fundamentalism and the PC brigade. Personally I believe “PC” is the new religion of Britain. You can have whatever “faith” you want, as long as you are “PC”. ‘Jesus is the way’, that’s not PC anymore. I’m surprised the name of Jesus itself hasn’t been banned yet, no doubt it is considered offensive by some Jew or Hindu (or even a Muslim!). The two-handed sword of PC and secular fundamentalism is going to be a big problem for the church this decade, IMHO.

]]> By: Rupert Ward http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-435 Rupert Ward Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:41:08 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-435 Hey Dan.<br />Good point about Communism ... nothing new eh?<br /><br />I guess, I am probably defining fundamentalism as a people / group who not only believe they are right, but also believe that they are only ones who have a right to exist, whether that is Christian, Muslim, Secular or any other form of fundamentalism. This seems in oppposition to pluralism: the right of many different faiths and voices to exist.<br /><br />I think this is exactly what we need to argue for ... the right for all faiths, and none, to express their beliefs and opinions, as you say. <br /><br />It seems to me that the rise of what I am calling secular fundamentalism is actually trying to stiffle other voices they don't agree with. Hey Dan.
Good point about Communism … nothing new eh?

I guess, I am probably defining fundamentalism as a people / group who not only believe they are right, but also believe that they are only ones who have a right to exist, whether that is Christian, Muslim, Secular or any other form of fundamentalism. This seems in oppposition to pluralism: the right of many different faiths and voices to exist.

I think this is exactly what we need to argue for … the right for all faiths, and none, to express their beliefs and opinions, as you say.

It seems to me that the rise of what I am calling secular fundamentalism is actually trying to stiffle other voices they don’t agree with.

]]> By: Dan Frydman http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-434 Dan Frydman Sat, 09 Dec 2006 11:33:37 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2006/12/03/the-rise-of-fundamentalism/#comment-434 Secular fundamentalism isn't anything new, there was this thing called Communism that was quite popular last century but kind of died out a bit.<br /><br />Rather than worrying about the secularism of our powerful media elite, our government is engaging and siding with it. The overall culture is secular and making laws to fit is the obvious next step. <br /><br />We can welcome the rise of all forms of fundamentalisms as a way to have meaningful dialogue. The danger of the secular fundamentalists is that in their defense of everyone having a legitimate point of view, they often state that there are absolutely no absolutes.<br /><br />This is postmodern society shooting itself in the foot. Perhaps we should be moving towards a pluralistic fundamentalism - where we all defend each-other's right to speech and belief [or non-belief] without anger or hatred.<br /><br />"Faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love." Secular fundamentalism isn’t anything new, there was this thing called Communism that was quite popular last century but kind of died out a bit.

Rather than worrying about the secularism of our powerful media elite, our government is engaging and siding with it. The overall culture is secular and making laws to fit is the obvious next step.

We can welcome the rise of all forms of fundamentalisms as a way to have meaningful dialogue. The danger of the secular fundamentalists is that in their defense of everyone having a legitimate point of view, they often state that there are absolutely no absolutes.

This is postmodern society shooting itself in the foot. Perhaps we should be moving towards a pluralistic fundamentalism - where we all defend each-other’s right to speech and belief [or non-belief] without anger or hatred.

“Faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love.”

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