Yorick, you can't pick a part of my definition that applies to you and find offense. I listed several characteristics that I was discussing, and they do not all apply to the religions you discussed. The fact that you only put part of one of two definitions in bold tells me you are ignoring the rest of the definition, which likely does not apply.
Just because your father calls his church "fundamentalist" doesn't mean he fits the definition of what I'm talking about. I spelled it all out.
Quote:
These family resemblances include:
>
-religious idealism as basis for personal and communal identity;
-fundamentalists understand truth to be revealed and unified;
-it is intentionally scandalous, (similar to Lawrence's point about language -- outsiders cannot understand it);
-fundamentalists envision themselves as part of a cosmic struggle;
-they seize on historical moments and reinterpret them in light of this cosmic struggle;
-they demonize their opposition and are reactionary;
-fundamentalists are selective in what parts of their tradition and heritage they stress;
-they are led by males;
-they envy modernist cultural hegemony and try to overturn the distribution of power.
>
The Five ideological characteristics are:
>
-fundamentalists are concerned "first" with the erosion of religion and its proper role in society;
-fundamentalism is selective of their tradition and what part of modernity they accept or choose to react against;
they embrace some form of Manicheanism (dualism);
-fundamentalists stress absolutism and inerrancy in their sources of revelation; and
-they opt for some form of Millennialism or Messianism.
>
The organizational characteristics include:
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-an elect or chosen membership;
-sharp group boundaries;
-charismatic authoritarian leaders; and
-mandated behavioral requirements.
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I don't recall you detailing how your situation fit all of these. Note that there are 3 groups of characteristics to address: general, ideological, and organizational. Now, if your situation fits into all of these things discussed above, chance are you may have a bone to pick. But I don't think you do.
But, sure, find offense if you like. Just realize your logic:
Timber: "If you are 1, 2, 3, and 4, then I got a problem with you."
Yorick: "Hey, I'm 2 and 4 so he must have a problem with me!"
Maybe it's the definition of the word "and" you need help with. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]
Anyway, thanks for tossing ignorance at me again as an insult. At least that's a problem that, if present, I can remedy.
[ 08-25-2004, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]