When All Fundamentalists Were Christian

[cbayer]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/18/when-all-fundamentalists-were-christian.html

Jay Parini

REIGN OF ERROR
01.18.15

Pope Francis has called out Islamic fundamentalists, but he didn’t go far enough—Christian fundamentalist exhibit the same smallminded traits.

Pope Francis, speaking to a crowd of ambassadors to the Vatican, recently addressed what he called the “deviant forms of religion” that use the practice of faith as an excuse to murder people, as in Paris last week, where a small gang of crazed Islamic fundamentalists attacked Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine, as well a Jewish market, killing 17 people and frightening millions. The pontiff scorned “fundamentalist terrorism” and “extremist interpretations” of the Koran, which he believes has caused so much bloodshed over the past decade or more.

His argument strikes me as both correct and incisive; but I would go further and argue that fundamentalism is perhaps more generally a problem than the Pope suggests. It afflicts Islam severely, but it also distorts Christianity when “extremist interpretations” are involved—although with nothing like the vicious results, as (today at least) few Christian fundamentalists, even in their most extreme versions, regard terrorism as an option.

With Islam, the argument makes a great deal of sense. It’s worth noting that Wahhabism—the extremist form of Islam adopted by Saudi Arabia in the last two centuries—has been the most obvious begetter of our current troubles. This demented vein of thinking promotes literal readings of the Koran, has a strong anti-feminist bias (among other things), and tends toward violence, as it regards all those—including other Muslims—who don’t follow their rules to the letter as heathens who must be eradicated.

With immense oil wealth at their disposal, the Saudis have promoted this distorted form of Islam, as Jonathan Manthorpe has noted: “Over more than two decades, Saudi Arabia has lavished around $100 billion or more on the worldwide promotion of the violent, intolerant, and crudely puritanical Wahhabist sect of Islam that the ruling royal family espouses.” This much cash will buy you a lot of influence, and it’s not for nothing Osama bin Laden and most of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attack were Saudis. (It could be argued that President Bush, with a kind of foreign policy dyslexia, attacked the wrong country in retaliation, destroying one of the most secular Islamic states when he invaded Iraq; but that’s another story.)

more at link

[Fred Sanders]

1. Saudi Arabia and Fox News existing in this world as beacons of intolerance and hate has to end.

The radical form of state religion, the Wahabi sect, is like the American dominionist "church" that Senator Cruz belongs to.

And a Wahibi sect billionaire from Saudi Arabia is a major stock holder of........Fox News.

The hypocrisy just reeks.

[Panich52]

2. Zealots are alike

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2015, 02:38 PM - Edit history (1)

I disagree that "...few Christian fundamentalists, even in their most extreme versions, regard terrorism as an option." Apparently you haven't read hate mail Mikey Weinstein of MRFF, FFRF, or even plaintiffs in Dover, PA creationism case receive. The only difference is that, as yet, it's mostly just talk and vandalism. That could change.

The plethora of theocrats in all levels of gov't give a supposed credibility to their 'Christian' cheerleaders. Fischer, Dobson, Robertson (700 Club) and their ilk continue to fan fires of hate and encourage physical response to rid their 'Christian nation' of pagans, atheists and other 'infidels.' These are the same folks who cheered on Cliven Bundy's armed 'security' even after a couple decided to go on cop-killing spree in Los Vegas.

With the zealots headlining the RW machine, how long before they turn words into action?

Oh, wait... Almost forgot murder of Dr Tillman, bombing of women's clinics...

[cbayer]

4. Hello Panich52 and welcome to DU and to the religion group.

I think you are basically in agreement with the author here.

He agrees that extremist christian fundamentalists are a problem. I think he is only making a quantitative comparison and notes that that could change.

[Panich52]

8. Thx

Thanks f/ welcome. And, yes, I do basically agree

[Prophet 451]

3. I both agree and disagree

There have been plenty of Christian terrorists, even recently. Look up the Lord's Resistance Army, the Hutaree or Operation Rescue and the violent anti-abortion movement generally. Come to that, look at what Christian fundies have done in Uganda (and arguably Russia), pushing for gay people to be locked up (only downgraded from death due to international outcry), look at Waco. There's no shortage of Christians willing to enact violence for their faith, only a lack of media narrative to name them as terrorists.

That said, he's right in that Pope Francis could have called out Christian fundies as well. IIRC, he has done so in the past but the message always bears repeating. The fundies insist we must be tolerant of their intolerance but I say that's just word games, it doesn't help anyone, it just gives the bigots cover.

[Promethean]

5. The preachers at the pulpits spewing their hate

do it with quotes from the book which is followed by literally every christian. Every believer gives cover to the crazies because up until they switch from rhetoric to atrocity it is assumed they are just "good christians," they were quoting the bible after all. Whats the difference between religious bigotry and non-religious? Religious bigotry gets public support from prominent elected officials (Santorum, etc). Non-religious hides from view because they are rightfully shamed (KKK, etc). True the non-religious bigots still exist but they are rightfully shunned by the majority of society and have no chance of obtaining political power.

[okasha]

6. Careful.

Your "logic" would also lead to the conclusion that liberals who honor the Constution "give cover" to the right wingers who also claim to respect it.

[edhopper]

7. That last paragragh

They are supporting my boss mosques here as well. Scary.