The Problem of Religious Fundamentalism

     The problem of Fundamentalism has been around since man first organized into societies.  It has had many different forms throughout the years. In our modern age the most prevalent and dangerous is the religious type of fundamentalism.  These men and women are willing to lie, cheat and steal to force their viewpoints on others.  The more extreme will rape, maim and kill to accomplish their goals.

   Religious Fundamentalism begins when a person and/or group of people believe that they have the truth regarding God. They are predominantly the members of revealed religion who believe God has revealed his existence, law and will to the people of the planet Earth. They believe above all others that they and they alone know the one true God. Their actions are based on what they believe to be the “word of God” and will stop at nothing to have their world-view obtained.

     The dictionary word for Fundamentalism is “a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles.” The words “strict” and “literal” are the most important. These words do not allow for any deviation from what they believe is the word of God. Any deviation is considered to be heretical and an abomination against God.  The easiest and best way for the Fundamentalists to carry out their goal is by being in control.

     In countries such as the Middle East, the Islamic Fundamentalists control much of the area and use this control to convert non-believers.  If conversion does not work then living as second-class citizens is the only choice for members of other religions. It is from these areas that Terrorists arise and where they work to destroy all that they believe are heretics.  In India, there has been a push by Hindu Fundamentalists to turn the country into a Hindu Nation.

     In America, the two types of Fundamentalists that are dangerous are the previously mentioned Islamic type and the Christian Fundamentalist. The Christian Fundamentalist movement is powerful and strong.  They do not kill those that disagree but work within the system of Democracy to change America to what is wants, a Theocracy.  What they want is a Christian Nation. They want the country to follow and accept the Bible as both the base and roadmap for America. 

     So, in a country that is based on freedom, how do the Fundamentalists change the country to their narrow worldview?  Simple, they try and change history and intention to their viewpoint. There has been an ongoing movement since the 1980s to change the intention of the Founding Fathers and their view of the Separation of Church and State.  Basically, they say that the Founders intended this to be a Christian Nation and then try and offer proof of this.

     Proof is falsified and then given to believers who agree and then they disseminate the information. Even though it is false it will spread quickly and by the time it is proven false it will have made it to many people.  Once this occurs it is almost impossible to reverse the trend and explain the truth. The following statement was created and disseminated by fundamentalists looking to prove their view:

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization . . . upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves . . . according to the Ten Commandments of God" – James Madison

This quote has never been found in any of the writings of Madison. The originator removed it from his publications but it was too late as it has found its way into many other books and sources.  It is analogous to a lawyer saying something that will be objected to but it still gets said.

     These are the kind of tactics that are used.  They want to turn the clock back on what have been the many accomplishments of American Society.  They want compulsory school prayer, posting of the Ten Commandments, Evolution education removed, and religious tests for office among the many.  They even want the Constitution ratified and Christian phrases added to denote a Christian Nation. While they do not maim and kill do achieve their goals, they will resort to an “any means necessary” mentality to achieve their goals.

     How they achieve their goal is important to understand but also it is important to understand the reasons why as well. The following are the primary reasons why Fundamentalists want to achieve their goals. The reasons are:

Truth:  As has already been mentioned, Fundamentalists believe they have the truth regarding God. They know the one true God and all others are false and should be destroyed. They know of God’s plan for us and have God’s “word” in writing from their prophet(s).

Power:  Power is extremely important for the Fundamentalists to have. This way they can force others to believe as they do.  They can create and change the laws to fit their view.  They can enforce their will without fear of retribution.  Simply take a look at countries where Fundamentalists control the government (Afghanistan and the Taliban) and this will serve as an excellent example.

Greed:  Greed is a powerful motivator.  Look at the “talking heads” of the various Fundamentalists groups and you will notice all live quite well and money is not an issue.  Wealth also has direct effect on power.

Recognition:  While many individuals on the Fundamentalist side will deny this, the truth is that many want recognition and verification of their own views.  They can do this by having others believe as they do.  The more people that agree with them, then the more justified in their beliefs they will be.

Fear:  The Fundamentalist has a view of God as the loving but punishing Father.  Rather than viewing God with awe and reverence they view God with fear.  They fear that if they do not do God’s will then they will spend eternity in Hell.  They fear that God will punish them on Earth.

     Why should Deists fear Fundamentalism?  They would like nothing better than to destroy Deism and other religions including alternative versions of their own Faith that they do not agree with. Fundamentalists believe that God has granted man his rights and so do many Deists. The difference is that Deists believe that man has universal freedom and that God has never given us his law.  Therefore, no man can know what God truly wants but should live by the idea that all are free and equal. This is what Fundamentalists truly fear above all else, that man will believe as he wants and not fall into their narrow and controlling worldview.

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The Modern “Age of Reason” and the Evangelical Revival

     The other day I was reading an about the history of Deism. The article mentioned that each time Deism (or more appropriately Deistic thought) and Reason have become popular there has been an Evangelical Revival. Then in a discussion regarding this subject it was mentioned that we might be seeing a new revival as many Evangelical/Fundamentalist religious sects in the world and America are gaining momentum. 

     As I was thinking about all this I began to look at the past. Reason tends to come in vogue and then be overturned by religious revival. Just looking at the history of the world shows this to be the case. Each time in the past that has seen an Age of Reason, it has been followed by an Evangelical/Fundamentalist (Christian and Non-Christian) Revival.

     We can look at the Middle East and see how Fundamentalism and the Revival movement (take over is more appropriate) occurred there. In India, there has recently been a movement to recognize the country as a Hindu Nation (sound familiar?). Of course, each time an Age of Reason movement occurred in Europe there has been a revival movement

     In America, we have been no different. Reason laid the way for the Constitution and the government and seemed destined (at the time) to continue and prosper. However, by the mid-1800s an Evangelical revival started and pushed Reason to the side again only to be found among the few. Luckily, the few were in charge during the times when it really counted.

     Looking back at the past century has led me to believe that a Modern Age of Reason has occurred. Of course, this is not the 1700s and with our lives surrounded in science it was harder to notice, but for me it was an Age of Reason.

     I believe it started before WWII and really began to go from there. It was a protracted movement that took time and had some speed bumps on the way with the Cold War, the Red Scare, the Vietnam War, the 60s and the 70s. While it did not stop during this time, it was severely limited by these wars and movements.

     The "Age" regained momentum in the 80s and reached its zenith in the 90s. Looking back, the 80s and 90s were a time of scientific advancement and the intention of the Founders regarding religion was pushed forth. How did this movement occur? Simple, it was Apathy and Denial on the part of the Evangelicals/Fundamentalists.

     The Evangelicals/Fundamentalists had power is their small circles, money was coming in and the numbers were good. However, plenty of scandals and Reason began to open many eyes to alternatives. The Deism movement grew by 717% in 10 years. The Fundamentalists finally realized this and as history shows another Evangelical revival movement was started.

     In the late 80s as the height of Reason was approaching, the Evangelicals/Fundamentalists mobilized and got involved in politics and law. They rewrote history to show that their viewpoint was correct and this was always meant to be a “Christian Nation.” They wanted to overturn all that was accomplished in the years proceeding and they organized.

     Despite popular opinion, they are smart, educated, well organized, and well funded. They know what they want to accomplish and how to do so. How did they accomplish this goal? Those who value Reason let Apathy and Denial guide them. Many of us simply believed it would be a passing trend and they could not do what they wanted, so we turned away.

     For many, they saw this movement as limited and small. Some believed it was simply a Christian movement to gain new members. Certainly, there were moderate Christian groups who simply wanted to expand church membership and get back those Christians who no longer attended. In fact, many moderate Christian groups allowed Reason to enter their halls of worship and learned about the new advances in biblical scholarship, evolution and science in general while maintaining the essence of traditional Christianity.

     The movement started small and over time gained more power. They worked through their churches and television shows and by involvement in the political process. They attacked other religions as created by the Devil, attacked other Christian viewpoints as heretical and coined the term “spiritual relativism.” Slowly but methodically they worked. While the modern Age of Reason was at its zenith they were working relatively unnoticed to begin the new revival.

     What does the movement want? They want science that does not agree with their literal biblical worldview to be eliminated from schools and the public in general. They want to make the USA a Christian Nation that is based on the Bible and God’s will. They want the Constitution amended to their viewpoint. For those in the Bible belt all of this has been brewing for many years.

     There are degrees of Fundamentalism as is witnessed by the Islamic terrorists and their drive to destroy all the infidels.  The Christian Evangelical/Fundamentalist movement in the USA is not a terrorist movement but desires similar goals in that they want a Christian Nation and the entire world to be Christian. Furthermore, they want their specific view of Christianity to be upheld and all others swept away and eradicated which makes traditional Christianity equally vulnerable as all other Faiths.

     The modern Age of Reason movement is still alive and will not simply go away but the modern Evangelical revival has set it back. As Deists, we must not let his movement push Reason aside. They have every right to go out and gain new members. However, they have no right to rewrite history in their favor and to force their religious views upon us. Support those who support Reason over Dogma. Support those who want the intention of the Founders upheld. Support those who want religion as a positive and personal aspect of peoples lives rather than a negative and forced perspective.

     The modern Age of Reason saw incredible advancements in science and Reason. During this period Religion in general flourished and many viewpoints were accepted and understood. People overlooked such subjective differences and prospered. Reason and rational thought became important in all aspects of life and America as a whole prospered.

     I am saddened as I write this as the modern Evangelical/Fundamentalist movement has gained much power and is pushing forward with its agenda. Hopefully, Reason and alternative religions such as Deism along with traditional Christianity will have had and will continue to have a powerful impact on society. This is much more than a political issue as I believe it transcends politics and makes its way into our lives and homes. I believe the modern Age of Reason to still be alive and it can outlast and survive the Evangelical/Fundamentalist movement.

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Copyright © 2004 J Hardwick