I don't think fundamentalism itself is at all wrong or dangerous.

Really, I don't. Not any moreso than scientology or atheism. It just so happens that those religious fundamentalists do bad things because of their religion.

But, let's take Jack Chick (since he's been such a fine topic of conversation as of late). He's obviously a fundamentalist. Is he doing anything morally wrong? He's not forcing his beliefs on anyone. He's not protesting funerals or saying that we should kill a group of people.

No, I don't think so. ZOMG he makes religious tracts. Who cares? He's not making people read them or believe them, so he's doing nothing wrong. His type of religious fundamentalism, while annoying, isn't doing anything wrong (and even the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church could be disputed as not doing anything wrong, aside from being *******-ish).

If Chick were to do something like, oh, I don't know, go on a murderous rampage in a gay bar because, as Alliance so aptly put it in another thread, "F@gs will burn," then, yes, that would be A Very Bad Thing and morally wrong.

The beliefs really aren't dangerous, much like racism. Racism itself isn't dangerous, even the most extreme of the beliefs (that one race should rule over another). It only becomes dangerous when people think they are allowed to act on these beliefs in a way that is detrimental to others.

You don't think Scientology is wrong and dangerous?

re: your example, Jack Chick tells verrifiable lies in his tracts. Lying, most people believe, is morally wrong, especially when you're slandering other people in the process. Therefore, Jack Chick is morally wrong to publish his tracts.

Hey, as long as we can agree that racism and fundamentalism are in the same category I am all with you, my boy.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Hey, as long as we can agree that racism and fundamentalism are in the same category I am all with you, my boy.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Really, I don't. Not any moreso than scientology or atheism. It just so happens that those religious fundamentalists do bad things because of their religion.

But, let's take Jack Chick (since he's been such a fine topic of conversation as of late). He's obviously a fundamentalist. Is he doing anything morally wrong? He's not forcing his beliefs on anyone. He's not protesting funerals or saying that we should kill a group of people.

No, I don't think so. ZOMG he makes religious tracts. Who cares? He's not making people read them or believe them, so he's doing nothing wrong. His type of religious fundamentalism, while annoying, isn't doing anything wrong (and even the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church could be disputed as not doing anything wrong, aside from being *******-ish).

If Chick were to do something like, oh, I don't know, go on a murderous rampage in a gay bar because, as Alliance so aptly put it in another thread, "F@gs will burn," then, yes, that would be A Very Bad Thing and morally wrong.

The beliefs really aren't dangerous, much like racism. Racism itself isn't dangerous, even the most extreme of the beliefs (that one race should rule over another). It only becomes dangerous when people think they are allowed to act on these beliefs in a way that is detrimental to others.

I don't even really know how to respond to this.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Really, I don't. Not any moreso than scientology or atheism. It just so happens that those religious fundamentalists do bad things because of their religion.

But, let's take Jack Chick (since he's been such a fine topic of conversation as of late). He's obviously a fundamentalist. Is he doing anything morally wrong? He's not forcing his beliefs on anyone. He's not protesting funerals or saying that we should kill a group of people.

No, I don't think so. ZOMG he makes religious tracts. Who cares? He's not making people read them or believe them, so he's doing nothing wrong. His type of religious fundamentalism, while annoying, isn't doing anything wrong (and even the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church could be disputed as not doing anything wrong, aside from being *******-ish).

If Chick were to do something like, oh, I don't know, go on a murderous rampage in a gay bar because, as Alliance so aptly put it in another thread, "F@gs will burn," then, yes, that would be A Very Bad Thing and morally wrong.

The beliefs really aren't dangerous, much like racism. Racism itself isn't dangerous, even the most extreme of the beliefs (that one race should rule over another). It only becomes dangerous when people think they are allowed to act on these beliefs in a way that is detrimental to others.

And I don't know what you immagine people do with Chick Tracts, incidently, but their main purpose is to be handed out as a conversion tool. If he's not forcing his beliefs on anyone, it's not through lack of trying.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Really, I don't. Not any moreso than scientology or atheism.

I would agree. That is why there needs to be less extremists. More often than not, extreme points of view are the result of an opposing extreme perspective. Be it religion or atheism, republican or democrate. And the reason it will never go away is because one side has to give a little bit. And in the case of fundamentalist christians or muslims, and ground given by the opposite side is only a reason puch that much harder.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Really, I don't. Not any moreso than scientology or atheism. It just so happens that those religious fundamentalists do bad things because of their religion.

But, let's take Jack Chick (since he's been such a fine topic of conversation as of late). He's obviously a fundamentalist. Is he doing anything morally wrong? He's not forcing his beliefs on anyone. He's not protesting funerals or saying that we should kill a group of people.

No, I don't think so. ZOMG he makes religious tracts. Who cares? He's not making people read them or believe them, so he's doing nothing wrong. His type of religious fundamentalism, while annoying, isn't doing anything wrong (and even the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church could be disputed as not doing anything wrong, aside from being *******-ish).

If Chick were to do something like, oh, I don't know, go on a murderous rampage in a gay bar because, as Alliance so aptly put it in another thread, "F@gs will burn," then, yes, that would be A Very Bad Thing and morally wrong.

The beliefs really aren't dangerous, much like racism. Racism itself isn't dangerous, even the most extreme of the beliefs (that one race should rule over another). It only becomes dangerous when people think they are allowed to act on these beliefs in a way that is detrimental to others.

I will disagree complitely.

Beliefs, ie religions are ideologies. Ideologies are very dangerous - people kill for ideologies, people lie, they hide behind them, and especially so is true for religion.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Atheism falls in that category, too, you know. So do lots of -isms.

No. Racism and Fundamentalism do not fall into the same category as Humanism and Atheism in my book. Two of those are destructive and restricting the other two are open and concerned with truth as well as betterment for people.

I have to admit I am biased, but well..I like freedom and logic.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
I will disagree complitely.

Beliefs, ie religions are ideologies. Ideologies are very dangerous - people kill for ideologies, people lie, they hide behind them, and especially so is true for religion.

Aren't you also claiming to be a communist (or at least socialist)?

Originally posted by Bardock42
I have to admit I am biased, but well..I like freedom and logic.