"Fighting fundamentalism...."

[Theodora]

is an article I just found on the Episcopal life archives, which might "resonate" with some of you. The subtitle of this article is "Will fear drive us from one bleak landscape to another? "

I think that the author's perspective on the place of fear in more "strict" denominations is sound.

If interested, see http://arc.episcopalchurch.org/episcopal-life/McC1'04.html

Excerpt:

For the danger of fundamentalism is not its narrow world view nor its rulebook belief system nor even its grievous tendency to exclude; its danger lies in its insistence that everyone must be compelled, by law or force if necessary, to hold the "beliefs of the true believer." It destroys the creative tension of the community and sets in its place a community based on drab uniformity, where problems cannot be acknowledged.

Blessings to you all this day...and, as Joseph bid us this a.m., "Be encouraged!"

Theodora

[Willow]

This is a very good point theo. I will read the whole article when I have time. I do think there are other elements to the fundamentalist lifestyle that are damaging... I need to consider whether they all boil down to uniformity or if there are other underlying catalysts such as greed and control that spawn the need for uniformity... Still thinking on this one.

THanks!
Amy

[Carmen]

The article was ok, but didn't offer much to chew on intellectually speaking.

I would recommend a book by Stuart Sim, Fundamentalist World, The New Dark Age of Dogma. My copy was printed in the UK, ISBN 1 84046 532 8. Here is part of something that I posted about it at another forum.

The author calls himself a post-Marxist socialist and says that he does not have the religion gene. He is worried about American fundamentalism. He discusses religious, market, national and political fundamentalism. He is not, as some are, against religious beliefs, but he is against their misuse. That book helped to open my eyes to the bad side of religious fundamentalism and opened my eyes to other forms of control.

"This book will be defending the right to dissent, since this is what is most at risk from the spread of fundamentalism. We have to recognise just how insidious and pervasive the fundamentalist threat is. Religious fundamentalism may be the best-known type, but there is a series of fundamentalisms operating in our world, in the realms of economic policy, politics, thought in general. They may not form a conspiracy, they may reject each other's claims quite categorically and even despise each other intensely, but they are linked together in interesting ways that create a fundamentalist world where dissent and difference are marginalised."

"You cannot simply ignore religious fundamentalists; they are in the main control freaks, and you are part of the landscape over which they are determined to exert their control."

"Waiting for oppressive systems of belief to wither away can be the most fruitless of pastimes for sceptics. We should never underestimate the ability of such systems to both survive and thrive despite flying in the face of reason: lack of logic never deterred a true believer, and it's unlikely to in the future."

"...we have to remind ourselves of just how little self-criticism there is within fundamentalist movements, the first instinct of which is to eliminate opposition, inside and outside the organisation. The more scepticism there is around in society the better, and it needs to be cultivated enthusiastically. Criticism is the live-blood of a pluralist culture and the bane of a fundamentalist one, and this is true whether we are dealing with the Islamic or imperialist variety: neither likes being scrutinised closely or having its objectives called into question."

"Fundamentalism needs to be unmasked: it's about power, power over others, and that's what postmodern sceptics reserve their deepest scepticism for. Just say no to fundamentalism, of whatever variety. And keep saying it."

This is a book with lots of food for thought, I recommend it to everyone fundamentalist or not.

Carmen

[Theodora]

I appreciate your responses and taking the time to look at the article. I offered it just because it seemed to corroborate some points that were implied in posts here recently. I'm sure you're right, Willow, in believing there is MUCH more involved in such "communities." AND...Carmen...I really appreciate your quest for more substantial reading and I thank you for offering something you've found helpful as well.

FWIW, I continue to think that it might be helpful "for future reference" if we could somehow compile annotated lists of favorite books. (It's all too easy to lose the reference in the midst of long archives or, especially, if a book is mentioned in response to someone's thread that doesn't necessarily "flag" that as a subject.) The "No Crosstalk" forum has been used for this....but, if you've got several already "on the tip of your tongue," I'm wondering about working up an article which the administrators might consider for posting in the "library" on these sites. Perhaps???

Anyway, reading of various kinds has been an enormous help to me in the past and I DO appreciate your efforts in understanding.

Blessings to you and yours this day.

Theodora

[Jerry]

Good idea Theodora,,,I would volinteer but am a one finger typest,,,,,maybe someone who could type it faster than I could think about it ???? :D
Love Jerry

[Carmen]

Maybe everyone could enter in their favorite books themselves with a short description, provided they are not already on the list. That way it would not be too much typing for everybody.

I do type, and could compile such a list if people would send me the info. I was planning on getting up a page like that on my website anyway, with a list of books and website links just for spiritual abuse and maybe some stuff on potentially manipulative concepts like fundamentalism, too.