CURRENT MOON

Friday, March 24, 2006

More Ways to Tell If You're a Fundamentalist


I blogged earlier this week about how to tell if you're a fundamentalist.

Jimmy Carter has a pretty good list in his new book, Our Endangered Values, America's Moral Crisis, as well:

"1. [F]undamentalist movements are led by authoritarian males who consider themselves to be superior to others and, within religious groups, have an overwhelming commitment to subjugate women and to dominate their fellow believers.

2. Although fundamentalists usually believe that the past is better than the present, they retain certain self-beneficial aspects of both their historic religious beliefs and of the modern world.

3. Fundamentalists draw clear distinctions between themselves, as true believers, and others, convinced that they are right and that anyone who contradicts them is ignorant and possibly evil.

4. Fundamentalists are militant in fighting against any challenge to their beliefs. They are often angry and sometimes resort to verbal or even physical abuse against those who interfere with the implementation of their agenda.

5. Fundamentalists tend to make their self-definition increasingly narrow and restricted, to isolate themselves, to demagogue emotional issues, and to view change, cooperation, negotiation, and other efforts to resolve differences as signs of weakness."

6 comments:

Thers said...

Jimmy Carter writes books, and doesn't just pretend he reads them?

What a nice trait in a president.

ntodd said...

Fundamentalists draw clear distinctions between themselves, as true believers, and others, convinced that they are right and that anyone who contradicts them is ignorant and possibly evil.

That's just like Gandhi's satyagraha. No, wait, that's the complete opposite.

Anonymous said...

hecate are you still around?

Anonymous said...

sorry, it's really late, and I'm feeling really sorry for myself and am in need of really of strong female energy. Mine seems lacking...

Anonymous said...

The most common trait of fundamentalists seems to be that they are eager to shed other peoples' blood. Around the world and across religons that seems to be one, true unifying characteristic.

Anyone who puts the value of a book, or other inanimate object over life is dangerous and amoral.

Wisecracking TofuMidget said...

Gods, how I miss Jimmy. Thanks for the reminder!