{"id":3702,"date":"2015-05-26T14:17:05","date_gmt":"2015-05-26T21:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/irreverin\/?p=3702"},"modified":"2015-05-26T17:31:24","modified_gmt":"2015-05-27T00:31:24","slug":"10-ways-to-spot-afundamentalist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/irreverin\/2015\/05\/10-ways-to-spot-afundamentalist\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Marks of Fundamentalism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Listen, let\u2019s talk about this.<\/p>\n

Based on the comments section of last week\u2019s post about the Duggars<\/a>, it is clear that we need to have some clarification around what is, and is not meant by \u201cFundamentalism.\u201d Because people have some FEELINGS about that word, y\u2019all.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that the word \u2018fundamental\u2019 is actually pretty tame. Here\u2019s what the dictionary says:<\/p>\n

fun\u00b7da\u00b7men\u00b7tal\u00a0\"chains\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u02cc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 f\u0259nd\u0259\u02c8men(t)\u0259l\/<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 adjective<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0noun<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    NO BIG DEAL, right? This is an ok word. But add an \u2018ism,\u2019 and it becomes laden with cultural value and ambiguity. And, thus complicated, is not so easy to find in a dictionary.<\/p>\n

    When I say that sexual abuse is rooted in fundamentalism, that doesn\u2019t mean that ALL abuse comes out of that kind of background. I know that, sadly, abuse does not discriminate. However, fundamentalism creates a system in which women (and children) are vulnerable; and perpetuates cultural assumptions that lead to silence, cover-ups and \u2018statutes of limitations.\u2019<\/p>\n

    But here is a really, really important clarification \u2013fundamentalism is not the same thing as conservatism. Not all conservatives are fundamentalists. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    And not all fundamentalists are conservative.<\/strong> There is such a thing as liberal fundamentalism. \u00a0(Note: believing that gay people should be allowed in church is not liberal fundamentalism. But we\u2019ll talk about that another time).<\/p>\n

    Fundamentalism, as I understand it, can be rooted in any faith or culture; it can also take root outside of faith<\/em>. Atheist fundamentalism is a thing. Political fundamentalism is a thing. Secular cults with a doomsday prophet who wrote his own religious text <\/em>are a thing\u2026 or am I just watching too much Kimmy Schmidt? (There is no such thing as too much Kimmy Schmidt). <\/em><\/p>\n

    All of which is to say, calling one person or family \u2018fundamentalists\u2019 is not a dig at all conservative Christians; any more than calling ISIS a terrorist group is the same thing as calling all Muslims, terrorists. (Although many people\u2014and far too many of them in Church and media\u2014do not know the difference).<\/p>\n

    One more \u2018what it ain\u2019t\u2019 note, before I get to \u2018what it is\u2026\u2019 Fundamentalism is not the same as being deeply religious. Nuns are religious. Buddhist<\/a> monks are religious. But these are not folks we\u2019d typically associate with fundamentalist systems or behaviors.<\/p>\n

    And I KNOW that categorizing people based on elements of their personal beliefs is not entirely helpful. But, much of what\u2019s wrong with the world is rooted in these types of systems\u2014and the kinds of leaders they produce\u2014so it\u2019s important that we be able to know it when we see it. And name it. Maybe that gives more power to the light, and all that.<\/p>\n

    With ALL these disclaimers in place\u2026 Here are 10 ways to spot a fundamentalist. Make sure you don\u2019t give them the microphone\u2014or the keys to the Oval Office\u2014if you can help it.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. A fundamentalist\u2019s message is based in fear<\/strong>. Fear of some kind of damnation after death; fear of \u2018other;\u2019 fear of being ostracized by the community if one\u2019s behavior does not conform to expectations of the leader or doctrine. Within this framework,<\/li>\n
    2. Patriarchy <\/strong>is not only an accepted norm\u2026 it is preached as divine design. And how well you fit into\/perform your gender role is directly linked to your spiritual health and salvation. This is just one expression of an otherwise<\/li>\n
    3. Rigid interpretation<\/strong> of scripture, law or other document\u2026 in which there is no room for mystery, no room for doubt, and no room to examine the possibility of human error in the founding of said document(s). Along those same lines,<\/li>\n
    4. Fundamentalism also values the letter of a law or doctrine over and above human relationship<\/strong>; or the greater good of humanity. Meanwhile,<\/li>\n
    5. A culture of silence<\/strong> hovers over anything that does not \u2018fit\u2019 the expectations of the leader(s) or group. i.e., sexuality, gender identity, mental illness, divorce, etc.<\/li>\n
    6. If imagined persecution<\/strong> lends authority to your message, and creates an insular \u2018us-vs-the-world\u2019 culture within your movement\u2026you might be a fundamentalist.<\/li>\n
    7. If you need the law of your country to lend legitimacy to your religious beliefs<\/strong>\u2026 you might be a fundamentalist.<\/li>\n
    8. Combined, these elements make it easy for those in authority to abuse<\/strong> \u2013whether emotionally, verbally, physically, or systemically\u2014those who are vulnerable; and their abuses will be backed by the system. <\/strong>And\/or kept silent in the meantime.<\/li>\n
    9. These systems also rely on a negative view of education<\/strong> outside the accepted institution. Public schools and universities are either painted as inferior, or as a hostile threat to the system of belief. (They will make you think things and ask questions! That\u2019s how the devil gets you, folks). Isolation is key to sustained manipulation.<\/li>\n
    10. Which means also that, within the bounds of fundamentalism, there is always an \u2018other.<\/strong>\u2019 An outside group, authority figure, or institution that serves as a boogey man\u2026against which, OF COURSE, the institution can protect you. If you follow the rules (see 1-9. Repeat).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This is by no means an exhaustive list. Nor does any ONE of these behaviors a fundamentalist make. Think of it as like, a magazine quiz. \u201cIF you answered mostly YES\u2026then you might be a fundamentalist.\u201d<\/p>\n

      So\u2026 If you are not these things, then don\u2019t be offended when people call out fundamentalism as ALL THAT\u2019S WRONG WITH EVERYTHING. And if you look around and find that most of the people in your circle do, in fact, fit this description\u2026 then get the *&% on out of there.<\/p>\n

      I know it will be hard. I know it will seem impossible. But you are loved, and you\u2019ve got friends out here, waiting.<\/p>\n

      We\u2019ll have a beer ready for you, if you want it.<\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Listen, let\u2019s talk about this. Based on the comments section of last week\u2019s post about the Duggars, it is clear that we need to have some clarification around what is, and is not meant by \u201cFundamentalism.\u201d Because people have some FEELINGS about that word, y\u2019all. It is worth noting that the word \u2018fundamental\u2019 is actually […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1154,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,56],"tags":[1053,1045,1048,9,1052],"class_list":["post-3702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-being-a-person","category-spirituality-in-culture","tag-19-kids-and-counting","tag-fundamentalism","tag-josh-duggar","tag-progressive-christianity","tag-the-duggar-family"],"yoast_head":"\n10 Marks of Fundamentalism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Listen, let\u2019s talk about this. 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