The "All Fundamentalists Are Bad" Myth

Fundamentalists are people who believe in the basic doctrines or fundamentals of their faith.

Christian Fundamentalists believe that the Bible is the written Word of God. They believe that God created the universe. They believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary. They believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be, the Son of God. They believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world, and he rose from the grave on the third day. They believe that all who trust him as Lord and Savior will be born again and will be with their Lord forever. They love people, including drug addicts, prostitutes, thieves and practicing homosexuals. They hate everything that destroys people and keeps people from a right relationship with God.

Jewish Fundamentalists are classified as Orthodox or Ultra-Orthodox. They are not secular, but believe that God exists and that the Jewish scriptures are the Word of God. They believe in a high personal moral code and usually live accordingly.

Atheist Fundamentalists profess that God does not exist. Their personal moral beliefs may vary considerably. William J. Murray III, in his book, My Life without God, gives firsthand testimony of the atheistic lifestyle. (His mother is the late Madalyn (Mays) Murray O'Hair, the infamous atheist "evangelist.")

Secular Humanist Fundamentalists are atheists, whose beliefs include atheistic evolution and the eternality of matter. They also believe that morality is relative and based on "changing human experience," rather than based on the absolutes of Christianity and Judaism. Their beliefs approve abortion on demand, free divorce, gambling, pornography, the right to suicide, infanticide, and the "right" to practice homosexuality. (D. James Kennedy, PhD, "Clergyman of the Year Address," 1984). On the positive side, they propose certain ideals. Part of their agenda is to "evangelize" our children using the public school system as a means. (Robert K. Skolrood, "Evangelism in the Classroom—Humanist Style," Kappa Delta Pi Record. P O Box A, West Lafayette, IN 47906, Winter 1988. pp. 46-48).

Moslem fundamentalists are often portrayed as terrorists. However, not all are.

Marxists (atheists) have been guilty of terrorism. People who call themselves Christian, Jew or Moslem have also committed acts of terrorism. Terrorism is not right, no matter what label one may wear.

Too often, some use the term "fundamentalist" for namecalling. They mock and slander groups who do not believe or act politically correct. Some naive people may actually believe that a fundamentalist is inherently a bad person. I do not.

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