Will the Fundamentalist Christian movement burn itself out?

[TheFarseer]

I think it is the main factor costing us elections right now. It's already been around for a surprisingly long time - nearly 20 years. Is it peaking now or did it peak a year ago is this just the beginning? I tend to think it will burn itself out because the world-wide trend is towards secularism and has been for centuries. Also, no political movement lasts forever, or is this something other than a political movement? Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. It has already burned out in a lot of denominations

that went through the "charismatic" movements of the seventies and eighties. Early on it was the Jesus Freak movement and then, just like the mullet hair style and CB radios, it found a home in a different culture.

It's just a swing of the pendulum.

[Jaundice James]

2. I think they're just ambitious because...

they have an administration that's friendly to their cause.

Let's get a nice lefty in the Whitehouse and start removing tax-exempt status from evangelical churches and then see how froggy they feel after that. ; )
-JJ
Shameless plug: http://jaundicejames.blogspot.com/

[marbuc]

3. They blew their wad with this president, and as he goes, they go.

nt

[savemefromdumbya]

4. I think people are getting tired of it

[stepnw1f]

5. I Thought They Were Burn-Outs

nevermind burning out.

[Roland99]

6. They're doing a fine job so far. "I'm a GOD WARRIOR!!!!"

[BlueJazz]

8. I won't take the Money!..I won't take the Money! ...50,000.00 Dollars??

..ah..I'll take the Money..

[HillDem]

12. GARGOYLES!!

You are DARK-SIDED!

[Roland99]

19. "You are not a ChrisTIAN!!!!!!!"

:evilgrin:

[Solomon]

25. LOL! You guys are killing me.

:rofl:

[Jara sang]

30. This thread is TAINTED! It's all tainted!

[LostInAnomie]

7. The only cure is full exposure to the public.

We have for too long lived under the impression that they are good natured people who have good intentions. The general unaware public needs to be exposed to the truth that they are unbending zealots that can not be reasoned with.

I just fear that we may regain the government before their exposure can fully happen. That would leave them still alive to fester and rebuild.

[KittyWampus]

9. I agree, give these freaks a microphone & moderates will RUN from them

[DemGirl7]

14. Yeah, full exposure is the cure to this problem

If you have ever watched any talk show when they invite these zealots on, all you have do is stand back and watch them hang themselves. I mean, every single time Falwell, Robertson, Dobson or some other religious zealot is interviewed they hang themselves because they have no shame...they say the same stupid talking points over and over again, which makes them look like the idiots that they are. And make for a good laugh if you have the stomach to watch they're ugly faces, and hear the bile that they spit forth.

[Zynx]

10. These things go in cycles.

They have for centuries. Gradually, the fundies lose out and the secularists and moderate religious types win, but there can be interruptions when people feel that one side has gone too far. In the late 60s and 70s, people moved away from progressive and secular politics and towards conservative and fundamentalist politics. I should think that fairly shortly we shall see a swing back considering how long this swing has lasted.

[AlinPA]

11. Aren't they building super-gigantic churches and drawing a lot more

people with preachers like Osteen (the photogenic young guy )? They totally control the republicans and it is almost impossible to vote out incumbents, so they could be around a long time.

[triguy46]

13. Maybe, like a supernova...

You know, the expanding red sun growing enormous, before collapsing to a black hole? There are so many of these groups, scattered throughout the country. They are increasingly linked via the web, giving strength to each other. The big mega churches would seem vulnerable because they are built around wealth theology, "god blesses you with riches because you are good" and that shallow theology seems tentative. The smaller, more remote or rural churches, not built on wealth, would seem to be deeply rooted. They were there before *, before the repugs adopted them, and they'll be there when the repugs go.

[Solomon]

28. You're right because the mega churches are syphoning off people

from the traditional churches. The mega churches are consolidating "christians" in a way. Soaking up the people left who still "believe".

[HereSince1628]

15. Um, think of the INQUISITION. This is going to be very painful

before it gets much better.

We'll be luck if we are not wearing letter L's for liberal or having T's for treason branded onto our thumbs before it is over.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. History shows us that culture swings on a pendulum. It will burn out only

to resurge again further down the road. But take heart, it's almost our time again.

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[leftofthedial]

17. no.

they'll have to be exterminated

[undergroundpanther]

18. I agree

Some people are beyond hope,and they are dangerous.

[Ladyhawk]

20. This topic hurts me on a personal level.

I used to BE a fundamentalist nutjob. I thought I saw demons and had a direct line to job--the whole nine yards. Luckily, my "charismatic" phase was the last phase.

My mother is still a nutjob fundy and I believe she has potential to do great evil because she wouldn't hesitate to follow what Pat or Jerry or Bush says god wants. :( Yet, I still love my mother. It's a hurtful position to be in...wouldn't wish it on anyone. :(

I wish that the eyes of the blind would be opened, but it probably will never happen. Our only hope is that more and more children of fundies wake up and see the truth before they get hurt too badly.

[TheFarseer]

21. So what brought you around?

My cousin has a story that when he was little, he used believe this stuff to a certain extent and then one day Billy Graham(or whoever) said touch your hand to the TV and pray your illness away and by the grace of God, it will be no more (or something to that effect) and a little later, my cousin was crying to his mom that he didn't believe in prayers anymore because "I prayed my asthma would go away and it didn't. He lied to me!" Of course he just married a crazy baptist so all bets are off now!

[Ladyhawk]

22. It was a long, slow process.

Mostly, repeated exposures to different ideas and the fact that God wouldn't cure my depression. Also, I was deserted by "friends" who said I didn't have enough faith, etc. It's a long story with lots of contributing factors.

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. I think you are on to something about exposures to something different

This is why so many people rail on homeschooled fundy kids because they stand even less of a chance of being exposed to something outside what their family says is "good".

I wonder, though, as adults how many of those homeschooled kids cling to ther small world and how many just break away from it all?

[Ladyhawk]

24. I was kept in a bubble during my formative years.

I had a fundy school, a fundy home and a fundy church. I wasn't allowed to interact with anyone who wasn't a fundy. For these reasons, I'm skeptical that home-schooling and religious schools can provide kids with a well-rounded education. I also realize that public schools have serious problems, too.

Were I to home-school my (non-existent) kids, I would make sure they were exposed to different points of view, but I would also let the kids know how I felt. I hope I would be open-minded enough to accept differences in my own children.

A fundy I know is having trouble with his adult son who broke away from the "faith." In my mind, I'm thinking, "Go, Andrew!" :D Like me, the poor kid will never be accepted by his family unless he returns to the fundy fold. For this reason, I really can't stand fundamentalism and what it does to people. It's my pet peeve, the issue that leaves me furious because I know how much harm it does to its adherents and to those who choose to leave. I wish fundamentalist religions and ideas would die a thousand deaths, but that, of course, will never happen.

[stubtoe]

26. We wish.

There will always be religious fundamentalists. Their political clout will burn out though, at least according to my little crystal ball...

[DanCa]

27. Only if the left stands up to them.

The reason why they have so much clout is that there able to drown out any dissenting voices. We meanning everyone on DU have go to work together and protest and picket the rwingers. Thats the only why to beat a bully, you bloody his nose once he'll go away.

[stubtoe]

29. Love your sig line!

Sums it all up, doesn't it?

[DanCa]

31. Yepprs and thanks. (nt)

[Ontheinternets]

32. I hope they burnout soon.

[noonwitch]

33. Yes and No

Yes, the political side of the fundamentalist revival will eventually peter out.
No, it is natural for humans to seek spirituality. Large numbers will continue to seek it out through the most obvious sources, like megachurches and evangelical outreach groups.

The fact that people desire spirituality should get more of a response from the liberal church. The UCC did a good job with their "God Is Still Speaking" ad campaign, because it made clear the difference between Jesus' message of welcome to all people and the hatred expressed by some of Jesus' self-appointed spokespeople toward gays and minorities. But the ads never attacked any individual organizations or people for having different beliefs, which probably would have not gone over very well.