Roy Moore and the Scourge of Fundamentalism

[maha]

I found a headline in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that reminded me how much I hate fundamentalists.

I am not just angry with Fundies; I really hate them. I hate their smug self-righteousness and their ignorance and their dishonesty and their all-fired determination to dominate if not assimilate the rest of us. I even hate what they've done to Christianity, which can be a perfectly fine religion when practiced honestly and sincerely.

I realize that if I were stronger in my practice of Buddhism I wouldn't hate people, so this is an admission of failure on my part. And I acknowledge that I'm responsible for my own emotions. As my old Zen teacher used to say, Nobody else makes you angry. You make yourself angry.

So here is the headline that caused me to piss myself off: "People of Religious Conviction Endure Yet Another Onslaught." The article is written by a Baptist who whines about how the courts are robbing poor, defenseless Xtians of their Gawd-given right to use the Gubmint to oppress people whose religious convictions differ from theirs.

Read more ...

[La_Serpiente]

1. They won't be saying that

when Roy Moore runs on the Constiution Party ticket. They will turn him into another Jessica Lynch.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. I agree with your old zen teacher

analyzing the ins and outs of Christian fundamentalism in Millenial New America is a job for those not prone to easy anger.

[maha]

3. They can analyze THIS.

I appreciate the many and varied dogmas that make up fundamentalism, but those are not my concern. I'm more interested in the psychological pathologies underlying fundamentalism (which I didn't really go into on the blog today).

Recommended reading: Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God.

[AndyTiedye]

4. PLEASE DO

> I'm more interested in the psychological pathologies underlying fundamentalism
> (which I didn't really go into on the blog today).

Please Do!! I am greatly interested in that topic.

[AlabamaYankee]

5. Strongly Recommend Karen Armstrong

First read the "History of God" then follow it up eith "The Battle for God" which traces the development of Jewish, Christian and Muslim fundamentalism to its origens in 1492. It'a a fascinating read.