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Religious fundamentalism vs extremism

What do you see as the difference between religious fundamentalism and religious extremism? To me the difference is between belief and action.

In the US, for example, we have quite a few Christian fundamentalists, meaning they believe the Bible is the literal and inerrant word of God. However, they don't, for the most part, act on those beliefs. They don't go around stoning sinners or force their daughters to marry their rapists and so forth. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Don't get me wrong, I'm GLAD they don't walk the walk.

To me, extremists walk the walk. ISIS is an extremist group because they actually act on their religious beliefs. Of course they have the means to do so. I wonder how many fundamentalists of other religions would be extremists if they had the means to do so.

How do you define the difference, if any?

Christian extremists live their lives using Jesus as their model. Muslim extremists live their lives using Mohammed as their model.
 
Are you saying that only Christian and Muslim extremists use Jesus and Mohammed as their models?
 
Are you saying that only Christian and Muslim extremists use Jesus and Mohammed as their models?

That is correct. You must, however, fully understand how each of them lived their respective lives.
 
Why? It doesn't deny God, just questions the variation in humans execution of his word.

Just seemed like another thread I didn't need to get involved in lest it be moved. Carry on.
 
What do you see as the difference between religious fundamentalism and religious extremism? To me the difference is between belief and action.

In the US, for example, we have quite a few Christian fundamentalists, meaning they believe the Bible is the literal and inerrant word of God. However, they don't, for the most part, act on those beliefs. They don't go around stoning sinners or force their daughters to marry their rapists and so forth. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Don't get me wrong, I'm GLAD they don't walk the walk.

To me, extremists walk the walk. ISIS is an extremist group because they actually act on their religious beliefs. Of course they have the means to do so. I wonder how many fundamentalists of other religions would be extremists if they had the means to do so.

How do you define the difference, if any?

Your description of a Christian (fundamentalist) is probably the lamest I have bothered to read on this forum. They are followers of Christ who didn't go around stoning people either. Instead gave forgiveness. You have completely misrepresented the Christian and the one they follow to paint them as some kind of extremists either inside or out. Shame on you.
 
Right but, Bush did say we were at war with Radical Islamic extremists. Therein lies the difference.

Plus Obama thinks if we give them jobs (or money) they'll go away.


Actually, if you look at western societies, for the most part we don't have extremists. That's because in America, most of us have access to higher education and jobs that give us the ability to provide for our families. If America was just as poor and lacked the resources the Middle East does to create diversified economies, what do you think Americans would turn to to make ends meet? Extremism.

This isn't a hard concept to grasp.

There are those extremists, such as Osama Bin Laden who are well educated. They use their education to advance and use others to further their cause. But most of his followers come from poor backgrounds, and lack education. I'd go as far as to say 95% of the members of ISIS have never read their Koran before.

Why do you not see religious extremists in Dubai? Why do we not see them in America? Why do we not see them in any wealthy nations? Why do we see extremism all over Africa, all over the middle east?
 
Actually, if you look at western societies, for the most part we don't have extremists. That's because in America, most of us have access to higher education and jobs that give us the ability to provide for our families. If America was just as poor and lacked the resources the Middle East does to create diversified economies, what do you think Americans would turn to to make ends meet? Extremism.

This isn't a hard concept to grasp.

There are those extremists, such as Osama Bin Laden who are well educated. They use their education to advance and use others to further their cause. But most of his followers come from poor backgrounds, and lack education. I'd go as far as to say 95% of the members of ISIS have never read their Koran before.

Why do you not see religious extremists in Dubai? Why do we not see them in America? Why do we not see them in any wealthy nations? Why do we see extremism all over Africa, all over the middle east?

Personally, we work our asses off and have three rambunctious grandchildren. We don't have time for extremism. ;)

However, we have 92 million out of work and 46 million living in poverty...where are the radicals?

http://www.povertyusa.org/
 
They refer to different things.

Fundamentalism is a specific approach to theology. Having to do with the approach groups take in learning from their scriptures.

Extremism, at least in the way you are using the term here (to refer to ideological / religious terrorism) is a political / social ideology.

The two refer to different things. The Amish and Mennonites are fundamentalist sects. Few people are afraid of an Amish terrosist attack. Jim Jone's "People's Temple", on the other hand, was a progressive religious sect (the opposite of fundamentalist) and is best known for having orchestrated the "Jonestown Massacre".
 
Personally, we work our asses off and have three rambunctious grandchildren. We don't have time for extremism. ;)

However, we have 92 million out of work and 46 million living in poverty...where are the radicals?

Poverty USA | What is poverty? | Where is the poverty line? | Who is poor?

American poverty is much different than African and Middle Eastern poverty. Our American poor aren't starving in the streets and have a standard of living that much of the world would consider "rich."

Extremism comes in many forms, but the reasons they come in the first place are all similar. And you can stifle extremism by two ways: 1. Education and economic opportunities and 2. Totalitarianism. The Middle East works best with totalitarian governments because they will NEVER be able to build diversified economies. The resources simply don't exist due to many things like poor climate. There are a couple outliers, such as Israel and Dubai but their economies are technological and financial. They still rely heavily on imports in order to feed their citizens.
 
What do you see as the difference between religious fundamentalism and religious extremism? To me the difference is between belief and action.

In the US, for example, we have quite a few Christian fundamentalists, meaning they believe the Bible is the literal and inerrant word of God. However, they don't, for the most part, act on those beliefs. They don't go around stoning sinners or force their daughters to marry their rapists and so forth. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Don't get me wrong, I'm GLAD they don't walk the walk.

To me, extremists walk the walk. ISIS is an extremist group because they actually act on their religious beliefs. Of course they have the means to do so. I wonder how many fundamentalists of other religions would be extremists if they had the means to do so.

How do you define the difference, if any?

That's an interesting question. Christian fundamentalist extremists do act out: they publically burn Qurans, they picket abortion clinics, they shoot doctors, they picket funerals, they try and encroach Christian fundamentalism into US law, they encroach on public education, they act out and deny empirical scientific proof of reality... The Christian extremists do a lot of things in this country: they used to hang and burn women that they said were witches as well. Of course in those instances it was just a land grab; power of the ignorant is what extremism is about, but extreme acting out is alive and well here.

The Christian life of quiet worship and aid and comfort to the needy, and thoughtful engagement of friends and non Christians, all the while believe that the world was created in six days, and eye for an eye etc, is a very healthy robust and outstanding lifestyle for those who choose it.

It's like night and day actually.
 
Christian extremists live their lives using Jesus as their model. Muslim extremists live their lives using Mohammed as their model.

I can't speak for the Muslims, but I can assure you that Christian extremists are not living their lives using Jesus as their model. Those who use Jesus as their model whether among the most liberal or the most narrow-minded fundamentalists will typically use their faith/religion for good.

There is the extremely rare Christian who is not right in the head who would bomb an abortion clinic or shoot an abortion doctor, but such people are not following anything other than their own warped convictions or maybe voices in their heads. But the bulk of Christian extremists, also in a small minority, are following the dictates of a charismatic but evil or misguided pastor or cult leader
 
We have our own extremists, trying to take over the government.



When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
 
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There isn't much relationship between religious fundamentalism and religious extremism. Fundamentalism means to accept one's belief on faith without question. Extremism just means to differ significantly from the status quo. Modern American Christians are fundamentalists but are not considered extremists. The Puritans in the 1600s were considered extremists but were not fundamentalists since they actually applied reason and real world knowledge to their beliefs.
 
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