Definition of "Fundie"

[Adrift]

I'd be perfectly willing to identify as a fundamentalist if it weren't for all the negative connotations behind it. Instead, I identify as an Evangelical, or more likely but different in meaning, a Pentecostal.

Unfortunately I feel that the word "Evangelical" is starting to gain the same derogatory meaning as "Fundamentalist" does now. Very often you'll read skeptics or even some liberal Christians refer to "Evangelicals" with a sort of sneer in their tone our language. I personally attempt to stay away from any label other than Christian, but I don't overly mind being called a fundamentalist or evangelical. I'm for both fundamentalism in its original sense, and certainly evangelism. I wouldn't mind seeing Christians reclaim these words in a positive sense.

[Cow Poke]

Unfortunately I feel that the word "Evangelical" is starting to gain the same derogatory meaning as "Fundamentalist" does now. Very often you'll read skeptics or even some liberal Christians refer to "Evangelicals" with a sort of sneer in their tone our language. I personally attempt to stay away from any label other than Christian, but I don't mind overly mind being called a fundamentalist or evangelical. I'm for both fundamentalism in its original sense, and certainly evangelism. I wouldn't mind seeing Christians reclaim these words in a positive sense.

Yes, the only GOOD Christian is a QUIET Christian!

[seanD]

Unfortunately I feel that the word "Evangelical" is starting to gain the same derogatory meaning as "Fundamentalist" does now. Very often you'll read skeptics or even some liberal Christians refer to "Evangelicals" with a sort of sneer in their tone our language. I personally attempt to stay away from any label other than Christian, but I don't overly mind being called a fundamentalist or evangelical. I'm for both fundamentalism in its original sense, and certainly evangelism. I wouldn't mind seeing Christians reclaim these words in a positive sense.

"Evangelical" is definitely used by the secular world in a derogatory way, probably because they believe it covers a wider gamut of Christian faiths. But unlike evangelical, I was seeing "fundie" used by quite a few orthodox and what they might identify as conservative Christians (at least on this forum) which seemed like an oxymoron to me.

[Christianbookworm]

It's more that anti-intellectualism is bad. We're to love God with all our minds!

[seanD]

It's more that anti-intellectualism is bad. We're to love God with all our minds!

No Christan I know is "anti-intellectual." Be specific. Do you mean anti-evolution? Anti-medical establishment? Anti-climate change science? Anti-higher biblical criticism? Anti-biblical criticism in general?

[Christianbookworm]

No Christan I know is "anti-intellectual." Be specific. Do you mean anti-evolution? Anti-medical establishment? Anti-higher biblical criticism? Anti-biblical criticism in general?

I might be refering to my straw fundy, but hopefully there aren't people out there that say one shouldn't use one's brain. I may mean cults where questions are not allowed and the leader is completely in charge. Aside from spiritually abusive situations and situations where people refuse medical aid, there may not be any other extreme examples.

[DeaconZ]

Fundie carries with it an idea of belligerence toward anything outside their views. In our culture, Evangelical is often used as a sort of alternative to "Luddite" in my experience due to ignorance and stupidity in both the culture and among many Christians also. I like the term Puritan as well as Evangelical.

[doctorxring]

I would say that an American fundamentalist often exhibits these traits --

Doctrinally they are Protestants, premillennial type. Many are Christian Zionists.

Politically they are often Israeli Firsters. (Which of course means Palestine and Iran are last).

It's the political identification that troubles me ...

[tabibito]

I saw some fundies on sale a while age - undies with four leg holes. Hooda thunkit?

[Jedidiah]

Whatever ideas are carried with the word "fundie" the word is just a pejorative for Fundamentalist. Fundamentalism is simply the acceptance of the Christian fundamentals. People can add all sorts of negatives to it, but is nothing more than an expression of contempt or dislike. It has no real meaning in and of itself but what has been stuck onto it.

[KingsGambit]

No Christan I know is "anti-intellectual." Be specific. Do you mean anti-evolution? Anti-medical establishment? Anti-climate change science? Anti-higher biblical criticism? Anti-biblical criticism in general?

I'm not so sure. My youth group leader in high school told me "don't think, just believe" when I admitted to doubts. Then not much later, my father told me to give up trying to intellectualize anything with faith because it's impossible.

[Jedidiah]

I'm not so sure. My youth group leader in high school told me "don't think, just believe" when I admitted to doubts. Then not much later, my father told me to give up trying to intellectualize anything with faith because it's impossible.

Well you seem to have learned better. It is a fact that many Christians are anti intellectual. That is very sad to see.

[tabibito]

I'm not so sure. My youth group leader in high school told me "don't think, just believe" when I admitted to doubts. Then not much later, my father told me to give up trying to intellectualize anything with faith because it's impossible.

That's usually code for
1/ "I don't know, and I can't be bothered checking."
2/ The church doesn't consider questioning its teachings to be seemly."

Historically, very few churches of any denomination, whether "orthodox" or "radical", have encouraged questions beyond a narrow range. Nowadays, many denominations will find almost any precept acceptable - just so long as there are occupied pews. The balance hold to the more historical procedures.

[seanD]

I'm not so sure. My youth group leader in high school told me "don't think, just believe" when I admitted to doubts. Then not much later, my father told me to give up trying to intellectualize anything with faith because it's impossible.

Nah, I still don't buy it. I'm sure they went to school, right? I'm sure they read the newspaper, read books, have studied courses, studied trades, engage in discussions about science, politics, economics, philosophy. Anti-intellectual is just a dumb vacant word. People are "anti" about specific intellectual subjects, but no one is anti-intellectual in general. Christians selectively use that word like they use the term "fundie." If Christians are anti-climate change science, the Christians that are pro-climate change science will accuse those Christians of being anti-intellectual. This can be said of any subject that Christians disagree with. Anti-intellectual is as subjective and vacant of a word as "fundie" is.

[tabibito]

I might be refering to my straw fundy, but hopefully there aren't people out there that say one shouldn't use one's brain. I may mean cults where questions are not allowed and the leader is completely in charge. Aside from spiritually abusive situations and situations where people refuse medical aid, there may not be any other extreme examples.

Well - not in so many words, anyway.