Successful fundamentalist revivals follow a predictable 6 step progression:
- Fundamentalism starts with a claim to orthodoxy perceiving itself to be the recipient of and protector of the True Faith.
- A modern faith emerges which is adjusting to a changing condition and Fundamentalism reacts against this.
- Fundamentalism then selects sacred texts which support its beliefs, but rejects other texts which contradict its ideology narrowing the idealogical landscape
- Fundamentalism attacks academic liberty, arguing for discussion only within a narrowly defined parameter.
- Fundamentalism then moves on to a simplistic view tending to define issues in the conflict in terms of light and darkness, good and evil, heaven and hell – leaving little room for paradox, inconsistency, parable, allegory or metaphor.
- Finally if the revolt is successful fundamentalism establish an orthodoxy of absolutism and certainty.
3 comments:
"establish an orthodoxy of absolutism and certainty."
I'm starting to see this a lot these days. Excellent insight and an excellent post CD.
Bryon --
Glad you enjoyed! I popped over to your blog, those Luke proofs do look nice. I wish they had include more of the text I'd love to see the verse commentary and compare to the TNIV.
I think it should be noted that Fundamentalism is only a small part of conservative Christianity. Also, I would strongly argue that absolutism is not a recent development.
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