Fundamentalism: A Formidable Enemy

That's what Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California apparently thinks.

Fundamentalism will be "one of the big enemies of the 21st century," claimed Warren in a recent newspaper column. "Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism - they're all motivated by fear. Fear of each other."

Do you agree? Disagree?  What sort of factor is religious fundamentalism in today's world? How should the Church respond to it?

Comments

[Ray]

Statements like 'inerrant' and 'inspired' need real qualifications in my opinion. I'm very skeptical of private biblical interpretations that are not fenced in by a community. The receiver's tradition is as important as the text, if not more so.

I'm willing to grant Scriptures "inerrancy" and "infallibility" inasmuch as it means that they truly convey divine truths to mankind. If it's meant as a historical/material claim, then I deny it outright.

What's more, I would hold that my position is more "Conservative" than many fundamentalists' positions in that it's more in line with the earliest and longest periods of Christian biblical understanding.

[Seraphim]

Are you trying to stir up the pot, my friend?
Chris, Maybe a little. But my 'olive branch' was this:

but that our interpretations occasionally need work. but I'm also foolish enough to believe the 'author's intent' means something...

--most wouldn't admit the 'bible needs' interpreting.. I've been dealing with a pastor at my church who thinks redactionism is great (which I think is a heresy) so it may be why my response had some teeth..

lyb

Seraphim

[Benjy]

"If your concept of God is radically false, the more devoted you are, the worse off you will be."

William Temple

[Seraphim]

"If your concept of God is radically false, the more devoted you are, the worse off you will be."

William Temple

so, was this a Confession or a Judgement of Who?