[Vision2020] evangelicals vs. fundamentalists

[keely emerinemix]

It might be instructive to point out that, sociologically, the American 
Christian spectrum has often been represented by a five-point scale.  Left 
to right, conveniently, sociologists have often categorized American 
Christiandom thusly:

"God is dead," Liberal, Mainstream, Evangelical, Fundamentalist

While Evangelicals hold to the seven fundamentals of the faith (elucidated, 
I believe, by R.A. Torrey in the 1920s), they are characterized by their 
willingness to engage with culture and individual nonbelievers in an attempt 
to spread the Gospel, unlike classic fundamentalists, who are largely 
suspicious of secular science and academia, modernism and cultural 
engagement.  Billy Graham and Tony Campolo typify the mindset of the 
Evangelical and Bob Jones and Jerry Falwell are correctly referred to as a 
fundamentalists.  This scale doesn't, however, classify charismatics and 
Pentecostals separately, as they generally find themselves in the 
Evangelical tradition.

By the way, based on what I remember from my university career of 
20-something years ago, the seven fundamentals are, in no particular order:  
the deity of Christ, his atonement on the cross, his imminent and personal 
return to the earth, the virgin birth, his physical resurrection from the 
dead, the Godhead as Triune, and the sinfulness of humankind.  I may be 
wrong on the last two -- Nick, any corrections?

And yes, to the chagrin of many and the encouragement of some, I am an 
Evangelical . . . just one who's often mortified at the conduct of other 
Evangelicals, but eternally impressed by Christ . . .

keely emerine mix

From: "David M. Budge" <dave at davebudge.com>
To: Nick Gier <ngier at uidaho.edu>
CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Moscow Taliban
Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 21:43:53 +0000

I applaud the call to protest and I've no use for radical fundamentalists, 
but as I digested Dr. Gier's missive over the past several hours, I became 
increasingly troubled by the broad brush with which he paints 
"fundamentalists".

I am not either a fundamentalist Christian or an evangelical. I do, however, 
have many friends who are.  Although I do not embrace their spiritual 
construct, I accept their beliefs while knowing that faith is the leap of 
personal understanding where science can show no proof. What arrogance would 
I display if I held that my faith were true and others' were false? This is 
the primary argument against fundamentalism - the belief that the literal 
reading of scripture are true and non-believers are lost.  So the antithesis 
must also be true for those who deny fundamentalist their beliefs.  This 
appears as intolerance of intolerance - defying the tenets of Lockean 
liberalism.

It is estimated that 30% to 40% of Americans are either fundamentalist or 
evangelical Christians.  Most, who I know, are hard working loving people 
who largely keep to themselves.  Baptist and Pentecostal organizations 
provide a great deal of charity and give a meaningful and productive 
worldview for millions of people.  For those of us who will not subscribe to 
their religious edicts, we are protected by the rule of law and the Bill of 
Rights.  Those, our tools to maintain liberty, must vigorously be used to 
protect our right to speak in the public square.  Likewise, we must protect 
their's as well.

As I said, I've no use for radical fundamentalists and, taking the linkage 
between Wilson and Monroe as  likely true given the evidence, it is 
desirable to protest the radical ideology that may eventually infringe upon 
the quality of life and personal liberties of the community.  Accordingly I 
applaud the call to arms. But,  I think it would be more helpful while 
appealing to a larger constituency if we addressed our concerns to the 
villains at hand rather than call into question the religious liberties of a 
third of our countrymen.  After all, influence is politics.  Just a 
thought...

Dave Budge



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