Fundamentalist Christianity
From Wikinfo
Fundamentalist Christianity, generally a portion of protestantism although the Roman Catholic Church could be considered fundamentalist, is generally characterized by literal interpretation of the bible, and belief in the actual existence of Heaven, Hell, the Devil and life after death. Fundamentalists believe that God created the world in 7 days and hold scientific theories of evolution to be false. They also believe that abortion is wrong, even murder. Homosexuality and pornography and school prayer have been other prominent issues. Recently, especially in approaches to U.S. President George W. Bush, international human rights issues such as the international sex trade, AIDS, slavery and persecution of Christians have concerned them [1].
Fundamentalist Christianity is not new but has risen to prominence recently in the politics of the United States due to increased political participation by its adherents in alliance with the right wing of the Republican Party, constituting the religious right or white evangelicals who provided 40% of the popular vote for George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election, 2000.
Historically most protestant denominations held fundamentalist beliefs but over the years most main-line protestant churches have become more liberal in their approach to many of the matters that fundamentalist Christians focus on. This has resulted in fundamentalist believers leaving more liberal denominations and either joining such large fundamentalist denominations as the Southern Baptist Convention, Assembly of God or new denominations such as the New Life Church.
Religious fundamentalists of all the Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism have risen to prominence in the United States, Israel, the Middle East and other areas such as Iran and Afghanistan where Islam is practiced and in some respects have taken center stage in world affairs. Hindu fundamentalists have become very active and prominent in India.
Fundamentalist Christians are organized politically though such groups as the Christian Coalition of America, the Family Research Council, and the Traditional Values Coalition. Liberal and moderate Christians have historically not been politically organized but in November, 2003 proposed organization of a political advocacy group called the Clergy Leadership Network [2].
Not all Christian Fundamentalists fit into the religious right; many, historically linked to pietism such as the Amish, Mennonites, and Quakers are either quietist or left-leaning. Black Christian fundamentalists in contrast to white evangelicals along with other African Americans generally support the Democratic Party.
External Links
- Christian Coalition of America
- Family Research Council
- Traditional Values Coalition
- "Cast Away: Our Vanished Values", article by Michael Feingold in The Village Voice, November 10, 2004
