I'll give my working "definition." More observation than definition. I've observed that fundamentalists demonstrate very little common sense and don't care all that much about suffering. "Reason" and "evidence" to a fundamentalist are just conversational notions or styles or tools, vehicles for getting where they want to go (or for discarding if they look out the window and see a neighborhood coming up that discomfits them.) They have devised (they would usually say "divined") "rules," and definitions, that are more important to them than kindness, love, joy, pleasure, happiness, sympathy, or amelioration of suffering. They believe in forcing everyone to live by these rules and definitions. Whether they want to or not. Forcing. Using the arm of the state, using laws they get enacted, using punishment.
They believe there is a deity to whom they are very special and whose "will" they are positive they represent.
These are just some of the qualities or values that I've observed seem to be common to fundamentalists.
Not much sense of humor seems to be a general rule. Why that should be, I don't know.
Sometimes a person can partake of some of the above characteristics and not be a fundamentalist, but merely be a person who believes in God. The way I tell the difference is 1) degree of adherence to the above tendencies or 2) if they say they aren't a fundamentalist you really shouldn't argue that they are. I mean, it's their religion, they should know.
I've had computer trouble all day, in fact for days, and am not in a good mood, and now i'm falling asleep. 'Night all. |
