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The Basic Characteristics Of Religious Fundamentalism
merits and demerits of Christian fundamentalism.
debate for creationism and evolution.
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“Considering that 'fundamentalism' is a term that emerged within a Christian milieu, how useful is it to apply to other religious traditions?”
Christian fundamentalism arose in the early part of the 19th century as the various denominations of conservatives were brought together by The Fundamentals, a set of 90 essays from different authors written to defend orthodox Protestant beliefs. Initiated by Lyman and Milton Stewart, the 12 volume project attacked a range of areas inclusive of higher criticism, liberal theology, evolution, socialism and modernism (Lienesch, 2007, 8). However, in today’s context, the same meanings and ideals in this understanding of fundamentalism are not entirely useful in application to other religions and their religious traditions as the term has become increasingly widespread, its interpretation constantly varied and is often affiliated with negative connotations.
The Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, Tennessee 1925 was regarding the trial of a science teacher for teaching evolution to his students and according to the fundamentalists, this implied that God...
The stage was set in Dayton, Tennessee. The leading actor in this show was a twenty five-year-old science teacher named John T. Scopes. Scopes was under the direction of advancing America. The playbill read The Scopes “Monkey” Trial. In 1925 John T. Scopes was encouraged to challenge the Butler Law. This law had been passed by a small town in Dayton, Tennessee to prohibit teaching contra to those in the Bible. Teaching from an evolutionary text, Scopes broke the law and gained the attention of the National media. The concentration of the media on the Scopes Trial effectively presented the contrasting ideas of a religious town and an evolving country.
Square Peg: Why Wesleyans Aren't Fundamentalists, a book edited by Al Truesdale and published by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, examines two significantly different ways of understanding the nature and role of the Bible that mark different parts of Christ’s church. The first is represented by fundamentalism; the second by Wesleyan theology. The goal of the book is to help persons in Wesleyan denominations clearly understand the differences between Wesleyan theology and fundamentalist theology, and that even though both are of the Christian faith, how the theology between the two are incompatible with one another. “Without becoming divisive or claiming perfection in Christian doctrine, the various denominations hold theological positions that reflect their Christian experience, history and understanding of the Scriptures.” (loc 124 Kindle, Truesdale) Wesleyans believe that the proof of the gospel reside primarily in how a person lives their life and “not in logic and argumentation.” (loc 160 Kindle, Truesdale) They support the policy of that to get a better understanding of their faith, is the result of all fields of human exploration and research, from scientific to historical.
The religious Maximalist approach to religion Lincoln notes, rather than "fundamentalist" a Maximalist believes that religion should permeate all aspects of social , indeed of human existence"(5). Basically what Lincoln is saying that Maximalists believe religion should take precedence in our social order and not be constrained to any singular facet of our social world. Lincoln also uses the term Minimalist which is more or less the opposite of Maximalist. Minimalists, believe that religion should be "restricted to an important set of (chiefly metaphysical) terms, protects its privileges against state intrusion but restricts its activity and influence to its specialized sphere"(5). The Minimalist makes sure that religion stays within its own "sphere" and does not spill over into economical or political order.
The United States is commonly thought to be on an inevitable march towards secularization. Scientific thought and the failure of the enlightenment to reconcile the concept of god within a scientific framework are commonly thought to have created the antithesis of religious practice in the rise of the scientific method. However, the rise of doubt and the perception that secularization is increasing over time has in actuality caused an increase in religious practice in the United States through episodic revivals. Moreover, practice of unbelief has developed into a movement based in the positive assertion in the supplantation of God by the foundations of science, or even in the outright disbelief in God. The perception of increasing secularism in the United States spurs religious revivalism which underscores the ebb and flow of religious practice in the United States and the foundation of alternative movements which combines to form the reality that the United States is not marching towards secularism but instead religious diversity.
The Scarlet Letter, a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, shows the adverse consequences caused by adultery between Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale and Hester committed the supreme sin of the Puritan society they belong. They must both deal with the effects of the scarlet letter. Pearl, the daughter of the two lovers, continuously punishes Hester for what she has done. Dimmesdale can only see Hester and Pearl when others will not find out or see. Hester finds a way to support herself and daughter, and at the same time, puts a mark on the possessions of some who are a part of society. The sin of adultery created repercussions that were shared and individually experienced by Reverend Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne.
The Tennessee vs. John T. Scopes trial was a high school biology teacher who went against the state of Tennessee for supposedly teaching students about the theory of evolution however, teachers were not aloud to teach this subject due to the Butler Act. This law was passed by the state of Tennessee stating, “forbidding the teaching in public schools of any theories that denied the story of creation as found in Genesis. This act was written because of the increasing alarm of many fundamentalist Christians who feared the challenge that science and evolutionary theory presented to a literal interpretation of the Bible”("The Scopes Trial, 1925."). Scopes was appointed to go against the grand jury, with the trial being highly publicized throughout
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, more commonly referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, is arguably one of the most notable trials in U.S history because it had such a significant impact on American culture. The origins of the trial sparked when Scopes violated the Tennessee’s Butler Act by teaching evolution in a school, leading to his first trial in Dayton, Tennessee, attracting a lot of press coverage and the attention of the famous Clarence Darrow, who would later become the defendant that epitomized urban society. The prosecutor, William Jennings Bryan had the conviction to actively dispute and dismiss Darwin’s theory of evolution from schools in America, making him the optimal prosecutor to defend the rural values of the Christian
On March 13, 1925 an act was passed by the state of Tennessee stating, “That it shall be unlawful for any teacher in any of the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of the State which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” This act written by Rep. John Washington Butler, calling for a ban of the teaching of evolution, was written after Butler read a speech by ex-Secretary of State and leader in the anti-evolution movement William Jennings Bryan titled “Is the Bible true?”.
In 1925, a teacher named John T Scopes was arrested for teaching the Theory of Evolution as this contradicted religion and their beliefs that God created the world.
The trial began on July 21, 1925 when John Thomas Scopes challenged Tennessee for teaching creation, and how it is not scientific enough (“A Debate,” 2005). This shows that Scopes wanted to change the teachings of science, which doubt the existence of God. In 1981, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) had filed against the state of Arkansas for teaching creation years after the Scopes Trials had ended (“Victory Arkansas,” 1982). The statement shows that people still had firm faith that was shown by teaching the true way that all living things were formed through creation despite whether it was illegal or not. One of the most intriguing cases in American history, Edwards vs. Aguillard, when “the Act” was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment (“Edwards vs. Aguillard,” 2005). As though many would say this is true, it also doubts the existence of God by trying to execute the creation law that all states had followed before Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution. The Scopes Trials played a huge part in the American society, which only made a wrong turn away from God by changing how elementary and secondary schools teach that humans were not created at the form that humans are seen
The Scarlet Letter is a well-known novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this novel Hawthorne wrote in depth about the Puritans’ reception to sin, in particular, adultery. He also includes brilliant visuals of the repercussions that occur when the town of Salem hears of Hester’s adultery. There are many relationships within the book, from a lover to a beautiful yet illegitimate daughter. Symbolism runs throughout, even a simple rose bush outside of a jail holds so much meaning. Hawthorne reveals themes all through the novel one in particular, was sin. Although sin does not occur often in the Puritan lifestyle Hawthorne shows the importance and change this one deceit makes for the town of Salem.
Puritans believed laying with another man or woman while they were married was adultery. Hester Prynne had acted in sin and consequently had an infant with the man she laid with. ¨Here, there
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23). Since the beginning of time guilt has existed, and in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, guilt illustrates itself through adultery involving Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale. Hester and Dimmesdale resided in New England during The Puritan Age and committed adultery while Hester’s husband was out of town. Hester’s sin did not go unnoticed, as her baby illuminated the situation. While Hester’s mister hid in the shadows, she was branded with a scarlet letter A for adultery as punishment for her sin. The scarlet letter was more than a piece of cloth over her chest; it was reminder to everyone around about Mrs. Prynne’s actions. Hawthorne uses biblical and spiritual allusions to argue that guilt causes individuals to change their lifestyles.
Smart, Ninian. "Blackboard, Religion 100." 6 March 2014. Seven Dimensions of Religion. Electronic Document. 6 March 2014.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a film that redefines views on stereotypes and is regarded as a controversial film. It begins with the protagonist named Changez, who is constantly regarded as a terrorist following the 9/11 attacks. The movie shows this incident from Changez’s point of view, who is revealed to have some controversial opinions throughout. The movie does warn of stereotypes, but from another perspective, and this can completely blow apart beliefs and redefine the west’s view on the Muslim religion, and at the same time subtly exploring western culture through the characters, settings and more.