Is Fundamentalism a Religious Movement or a Psychological Disorder?

[Vee]

Is fundamentalism a religious movement or a psychological disorder?

Probably a mix of both. People can become fundamentalists with regards to a number of issues. Some will turn to religion, others to a certain lifestyle, whatever suits their profile. A balanced person is capable of keeping a balanced view of things, but someone with psychological problems will be easier to manipulate and turn into a fundamentalist.

 

[Curious George]

The boys of 911 were fundies. So too are ones
who deny medical care to children in favour
of prayer.

The little old lady who attends churchachrist
is harmless.

Its a bit insulting to suggest anyone here is
not aware of such distinctions.

So you would draw the line of "fundies" at causing direct and immediate harm?

 

[Audie]

So you would draw the line of "fundies" at causing direct and immediate harm?

No

 

[Vinayaka]

This guy How religious fundamentalism hijacks your brain, as explained by a neuroscientist thinks it's a parasite, not a disease or disorder.

 

[shmogie]

Or it could stem from the desire to prevent the abuses and ill-behaviors that come from such a thing. A rigid and strict adherence to dogma serves no one any good, and it's potentially very destructive in its wake.

From the Christian perspective, fundamentalism is simply adherence to the fundamentals of the faith in the NT. The Apostolic Church was composed of fundamentalists, they adhered to the fundamentals of Christianity as detailed in the NT.
This game with words to deride people is disgusting, immoral, and disingenuous.

The OPś beef isn´t with fundamentalists in the Church, his beef is with Christianity, and this is a convenient way to take the cheapest of shots.

Define exactly who you mean, don´t taker an innocuous word and twist it to meet your goals.

More language manipulation. Big Brother would be proud.

 

[shmogie]

Or it could stem from the desire to prevent the abuses and ill-behaviors that come from such a thing. A rigid and strict adherence to dogma serves no one any good, and it's potentially very destructive in its wake.

From the Christian perspective, fundamentalism is simply adherence to the fundamentals of the faith in the NT. The Apostolic Church was composed of fundamentalists, they adhered to the fundamentals of Christianity as detailed in the NT.
This game with words to deride people is disgusting, immoral, and disingenuous.

The OPś beef isn´t with fundamentalists in the Church, his beef is with Christianity, and this is a convenient way to take the cheapest of shots.

Define exactly who you mean, don´t taker an innocuous word and twist it to meet your goals.

More language manipulation. Big Brother would be proud.

 

[sooda]

Probably a mix of both. People can become fundamentalists with regards to a number of issues. Some will turn to religion, others to a certain lifestyle, whatever suits their profile. A balanced person is capable of keeping a balanced view of things, but someone with psychological problems will be easier to manipulate and turn into a fundamentalist.

Its reactionary against Darwin, Evolution and scientific progress... against modernity, women getting the vote... circa 1920.

 

[sooda]

From the Christian perspective, fundamentalism is simply adherence to the fundamentals of the faith in the NT. The Apostolic Church was composed of fundamentalists, they adhered to the fundamentals of Christianity as detailed in the NT.
This game with words to deride people is disgusting, immoral, and disingenuous.

The OPś beef isn´t with fundamentalists in the Church, his beef is with Christianity, and this is a convenient way to take the cheapest of shots.

Define exactly who you mean, don´t taker an innocuous word and twist it to meet your goals.

More language manipulation. Big Brother would be proud.

Fundamentalism is countercultural modernism | Meaningness
Meaningnessfundamentalism-countercultural-modernism

• Fundamentalism is just over a century old. The word “fundamentalism” itself was coined only in the 1920s. It was also only in the 1920s that fundamentalism became a significant force—and then only for a few years, before going underground for decades.World War I (1914-18) was a profound shock for eternalist certainty in meanings. Social, cultural, and psychological systems began to disintegrate. Fundamentalism seemed to promise their restoration; and this accounts for its 1920s popularity.How...

 

[Spartan]

Is fundamentalism a religious movement or a psychological disorder?

Fundamental beliefs. Jesus had fundamental religious beliefs. There was nothing evil, dysfunctional or psychologically aberrant about them.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the great minds of American thought, called the teachings of Jesus, "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."

On the other hand, there's liberal fundamentalism. Fundamental liberal beliefs - straight from Hell and the devil himself. Liberals are now advancing the perverse, the profane, the unnatural, the slaughter of the innocents, open borders, pornography, confiscating firearms from lawful citizens; disrespect for law enforcement, legalization of illicit drugs, reverse racism, social divisions, the abolition of traditional American values and beliefs, antisemitism, godlessness, anti-constitutionalism, socialism, forced redistribution of wealth, a weakened national defense, massive government growth, raising taxes, non-functional single payer healthcare by the government, sanctuary cities for criminals, a massive, plantation-style, government welfare system, regressive progressivism, attacks on religious free speech and Christianity, vitriolic intolerance of conservative beliefs, dogmatism, nihilism, and anti-intellectualism, to name a few.

"The violent and decadent society that the liberals so despise is the very one they have created. They wanted sexual promiscuity, drugs, disregard for the law, no censorship of pornography, no laws against sodomy or public profanity, abortion on demand, quick and easy divorces, acceptance of homosexuality, Miranda rights, a welfare system that paid women to have illegitimate children, a tax system that penalizes marriage, and a godless education system. And they got it. Every last bit of it." - Charley Reese, former Orlando Sentinel Opinion Columnist

In her book "Godless - the Church of Liberalism," Ann Coulter throws open the doors of the Church of Liberalism, showing us its sacraments (abortion), its holy writ (Roe v. Wade), its martyrs (from Soviet spy Alger Hiss to cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal), its clergy (public school teachers), its churches (government schools, where prayer is prohibited but condoms are free), its doctrine of infallibility (as manifest in the "absolute moral authority" of spokesmen from Cindy Sheehan to Max Cleland), and its cosmology (in which mankind is an inconsequential accident).

So,

Beware of Liberal Fundamentalism

Liberal Fundamentalism

Excerpt: "It is certainly arguable, then, that “progressive” liberal fundamentalism substantially undermines the basic effectiveness of the government and other societal elements of democracy. Despite the idealistic goals of liberalism, attempts to build a Utopian liberal society in America have only led to heightened outbreaks of AIDS, VD, porno-related crime, social divisions, divorce, abortion, drug addictions, deficit spending, the welfare state, a crushing tax burden, the breakdown of the family unit, moral depravity, and numerous other such scourges which have resulted in enormous societal suffering and discontent. As a result, liberal fundamentalism is strongly associated with left-wing fanaticism, reverse-racism, anti-intellectualism, elitism, nihilism, godlessness, and societal violence."

 

[sooda]

From the Christian perspective, fundamentalism is simply adherence to the fundamentals of the faith in the NT. The Apostolic Church was composed of fundamentalists, they adhered to the fundamentals of Christianity as detailed in the NT.
This game with words to deride people is disgusting, immoral, and disingenuous.

The OPś beef isn´t with fundamentalists in the Church, his beef is with Christianity, and this is a convenient way to take the cheapest of shots.

Define exactly who you mean, don´t taker an innocuous word and twist it to meet your goals.

More language manipulation. Big Brother would be proud.

Do you own a TV or get the polio vaccine? Do you think Jesus wanted us fundamentally ignorant?

 

[Jose Fly]

Its reactionary against Darwin, Evolution and scientific progress... against modernity, women getting the vote... circa 1920.

My understanding is that Christian fundamentalism in the US was also driven by the advent of "higher criticism" of the Bible that gained traction around the turn of the century.

 

[Revoltingest]

This guy How religious fundamentalism hijacks your brain, as explained by a neuroscientist thinks it's a parasite, not a disease or disorder.

The article was a bit disappointing....not that I'm criticizing your linking it.
My reason is that studies of brain changes due to drug addiction suggest
that fundamentalism might have similar effects. I was hoping to read
about such effects.

 

[shmogie]

Try to actually put that argument together such that the conclusion "the only reason for questioning whether fundamentalism is a religious movement or a psychological disorder is malice and ignorance.

I am pretty sure that you will either have to take semantic liberties with the word ignorance or you will fail.

Myriad reasons exist for questioning whether fundamentalism is a psychological disorder or a religious movement. These certainly include plain old curiosity and concern for the well being of our communities and nations.

It is too easy to write off differing opinions as ignorant or malicious. While sometimes those opinions are ignorant and malicious, one should at least give some consideration before concluding so.

I find the level of animosity this thread has brought from the rf crowd interesting and curious in itself.

I am a Christian fundamentalist. I try and adhere to the fundamental principles of the Church as defined in the NT and as the Apostolic Church did.

Using the word as a purely negative connotation, then attaching it to mental illness is language manipulation with a nefarious purpose, to define Christians like me as somehow harmful to others.

It is a lie, it is buls**t, it is muddying the waters to make a blanket accusation, and I will emphatically call it out for what it is.

If the OP wants to point out some churches who have gone off the rails, or people who violate the fundamentals of Christianity he should do so, specifically.

 

[Jose Fly]

Here are a couple of takes on the psychology of fundamentalism....

https://www.counterpunch.org/2005/01/08/the-psychology-of-christian-fundamentalism/

A Psychological Analysis of Fundamentalism: Essay by Anitra Freeman

Psychological traits of fundamentalism:​

• A strictly hierarchical and authoritarian worldview. Everything has to have a First, a Somebody in Charge. In any partnership, one partner has to have the deciding vote. Groups and societies work best with rigidly defined roles and stratifications. (There are people who believe this way who are not fundamentalists: at least, not religious fundamentalists.)

• Ethical development at the "reward and punishment" stage: morality must be defined and enforced by an external authority.

• A lot of guilt and fear about sex.

• Basic distrust of human beings; certainty that "uncontrolled," human beings will be bad and vicious, particularly in sexual ways.

• Low tolerance for ambiguity. Everything must be clear cut, black and white. Nothing can be "possibly true but unproven at this time, we're still studying it." Fundamentalists regard science as flawed precisely because science changes. (A striking characteristic of fundamentalists is that their response to any setback which may instill doubt is to step up evangelizing for converts.)

• Literalism, usually including a limited sense of humor.

• Distrust of their own judgment, or any other human being's judgment.

• Fear of the future. The driving motivation of fundamentalism appears to outsiders to be fear that oneself or the group one identifies with is losing power and prerequisites and is in danger from others who are gaining power. This is not how fundamentalists put it.

• A low self-esteem that finds satisfaction in being one of the Elect, superior to all others. It seems to be particularly rewarding to know that rich people have a real hard time getting into Heaven.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I am a Christian fundamentalist. I try and adhere to the fundamental principles of the Church as defined in the NT and as the Apostolic Church did.

Using the word as a purely negative connotation, then attaching it to mental illness is language manipulation with a nefarious purpose, to define Christians like me as somehow harmful to others.

It is a lie, it is buls**t, it is muddying the waters to make a blanket accusation, and I will emphatically call it out for what it is.

If the OP wants to point out some churches who have gone off the rails, or people who violate the fundamentals of Christianity he should do so, specifically.

I am not so sure about that. Look at how it affects your approach to the sciences.

 

[shmogie]

What the hell are you talking about ?

As far as I can tell the NT said nothing of TV or vaccine. What does that have to do with me who believes in the fundamentals of the faith in the NT.

If you want to call groups or people out, do so,m specifically. Language manipulation ids not the way to do it,

Say, those Christians who don´t have TV or don´t believe in vaccinations are ...................................

Thee things have nothing to do with the NT, or the fundamentals of the faith that I believe, making me a fundamentalist.

 

[shmogie]

Here are a couple of takes on the psychology of fundamentalism....

https://www.counterpunch.org/2005/01/08/the-psychology-of-christian-fundamentalism/

A Psychological Analysis of Fundamentalism: Essay by Anitra Freeman

Psychological traits of fundamentalism:​

• A strictly hierarchical and authoritarian worldview. Everything has to have a First, a Somebody in Charge. In any partnership, one partner has to have the deciding vote. Groups and societies work best with rigidly defined roles and stratifications. (There are people who believe this way who are not fundamentalists: at least, not religious fundamentalists.)

• Ethical development at the "reward and punishment" stage: morality must be defined and enforced by an external authority.

• A lot of guilt and fear about sex.

• Basic distrust of human beings; certainty that "uncontrolled," human beings will be bad and vicious, particularly in sexual ways.

• Low tolerance for ambiguity. Everything must be clear cut, black and white. Nothing can be "possibly true but unproven at this time, we're still studying it." Fundamentalists regard science as flawed precisely because science changes. (A striking characteristic of fundamentalists is that their response to any setback which may instill doubt is to step up evangelizing for converts.)

• Literalism, usually including a limited sense of humor.

• Distrust of their own judgment, or any other human being's judgment.

• Fear of the future. The driving motivation of fundamentalism appears to outsiders to be fear that oneself or the group one identifies with is losing power and prerequisites and is in danger from others who are gaining power. This is not how fundamentalists put it.

• A low self-esteem that finds satisfaction in being one of the Elect, superior to all others. It seems to be particularly rewarding to know that rich people have a real hard time getting into Heaven.

This is not Christian fundamentalism, it is the definition of a cult, say so.

Another innocuous word co opted by those who think they are somehow the elites of human thought, making me, a Christian fundamentalist equal to a muslim mad bomber, sweet.

I have attended several different Churches of different denominations over my 70 years, and have seen none of this stuff, but you tar them all the same with the big brother style manipulated word.,

You and these authors have no clue as to what a true Christian fundamentalist is.

 

[Subduction Zone]

This is not Christian fundamentalism, it is the definition of a cult, say so.

Another innocuous word co opted by those who think they are somehow the elites of human thought, making me, a Christian fundamentalist equal to a muslim mad bomber, sweet.

I have attended several different Churches of different denominations over my 70 years, and have seen none of this stuff, but you tar them all the same with the big brother style manipulated word.,

You and these authors have no clue as to what a true Christian fundamentalist is.

Please, those are traits of fundamentalists. A church does not need to follow all of them to be fundamentalist, but it is interesting that you noticed that they are also the traits of a cult.

 

[shmogie]

Fundamentalism is countercultural modernism | Meaningness
Meaningnessfundamentalism-countercultural-modernism

• Fundamentalism is just over a century old. The word “fundamentalism” itself was coined only in the 1920s. It was also only in the 1920s that fundamentalism became a significant force—and then only for a few years, before going underground for decades.World War I (1914-18) was a profound shock for eternalist certainty in meanings. Social, cultural, and psychological systems began to disintegrate. Fundamentalism seemed to promise their restoration; and this accounts for its 1920s popularity.How...

So what ? If one believes in a set of fundamentals, one is a fundamentalist. I doubt the word was coined in the 1920ś. It was co opted in an effort to define people of certain characteristics. It cannot apply to just a specific group, else the term fundamental can only apply to this group.

When I was a high school baseball coach a long, long time ago, I was big on teaching the fundamentals of baseball, imagine, I was an atheist baseball fundamentalist, wow ! My bad.

 

[Jose Fly]

This is not Christian fundamentalism

In my experience it most certainly is. Each of those traits are exhibited to differing degrees by various groups, but overall they're quite accurate.

Another innocuous word co opted by those who think they are somehow the elites of human thought, making me, a Christian fundamentalist equal to a muslim mad bomber, sweet.

You're exhibiting one of the key traits right here, i.e., black/white thinking (as you also did in our OOL discussion).

I have attended several different Churches of different denominations over my 70 years, and have seen none of this stuff, but you tar them all the same with the big brother style manipulated word.,

I've grown up in a fundamentalist Christian environment and am still very close with people in my family who are fundamentalists, and to one degree or another they most definitely 1) have a patriarchal view of authority, 2) discipline via reward/punishment, 3) are very focused on sexual issues such as homosexuality, 4) believe that "man's reasoning" is not trustworthy (especially when it comes to science), 5) tend to think in black/white terms, 6) take a literal approach to the Bible, 7) believe the "end times" are just around the corner, and 8) have self-esteem issues.

You and these authors have no clue as to what a true Christian fundamentalist is.

Well then I guess we're fortunate to have you here to set us straight on what a "true Christian fundamentalist" is!

Are you denying that Christian fundamentalists don't tend to patriarchy (e.g. the man is the head of the household), aren't strict disciplinarians (spare the rod), aren't at all focused on human sexuality (pray the gay away), don't distrust science (young-earth creationism), don't tend to black/white thinking (as you've done repeatedly), don't interpret the Bible literally, and don't believe the "end times" are imminent?

Really? Because I can cite specific examples of right-wing Christian groups doing each of those.