From: jmc@freedom.opus (John M Cho)
Subject: Re: Those Nasty Fundamentalists (was Re: People is not America)
Organization: /freedom3/jmc/.organization
	<1992Aug13.003927.21973@aero.org>
	<1992Aug13.130020.17658@cbnews.cb.att.com>
	<1992Aug15.062933.4516@aero.org>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 05:40:52 GMT

In article <1992Aug15.062933.4516@aero.org> sco@aero.org (Stacey C. O'Brien) writes:

[Lots of stuff about fundementalist views (truth or not) by Stacey
and Andy deleted...]

>   But the funny thing is that I've encountered a LOT less legalism (and
>   this is just my experience) since I joined a fundementalist, charismatic
>   church than I ever did in my evangelical upbringing. In that upbringing
>   it was always "How many hours did you read your bible and pray today?"..etc
>   One church that I went to bodily threw out some visitors who raised their
>   hands in worship, not realizing that it was a "no no" on our evangelical
>   list. In the church I go to now, all styles of worship are accepted, if
>  they are in line with the Bible.

You know what Stacey mentions is actually one reason why our family left
the Presbyterian and Baptist churches and joined Assembly of God's...
a pentecostal charismatic denomination... We eventually declared ourselves
as non-denominational...but we do attend (what I would say as) fundementalist
charismatic churches still...

>   And this is my complaint - as originally stated - that fundementalists
>   are inaccurately represented. You seem to buy into that characterization.
>   I wonder how many Christians loathe fundementalists or are afraid of "them"
>   not realizing that their own interpretation of the Bible is fundementalist!
>   It's very strange and sad when Christians don't even understand this...
>   >
>   >You can agree or disagree with my characterization.  I'm just stating
>   >it the way I see it.  But I don't want to be a fundamentalist, at 
>   >least not in the sense that the word is used today.  I'd prefer to
>   >call myself an evangelical, which, in my mind, means the same thing
>   >that the original fundamentalists meant, but without all the 
>   >excess cultural baggage.  

>   Right. I prefer that too, but it would be dishonest. I will admit that I
>   was SHOCKED when I discovered that my denomination is theologically
>   fundementalist! I had to ask several pastors before I would believe it!

Boom...me too... When I found out the negative view of fundementalists
by other Christians I really began to re-analyze my life as a Christian,
looking for things that were "fundementally" wrong...but, I found that
I was no different from my Presbyterian brothers except in a more open
acceptance to the gifts of the Spirit and other more stereotypical 
things like "hand-waving"... All in all, I was very confused...at
what exactly was so disliked about fundementalists... 

>   Why? I had been sold a lie about what a fundementalist is and does...
>   And even now I'm thinking, yeah, but I bet the people in the SOUTH who
>   call themselves fundementalists are a bunch of beat ya over the head
>   with a bible, yelling in tongues racist red-necked bigoted hypocrits,
>   so maybe fundementalism in California is a whole different thing than
>   it is in the south.Now where did I GET that idea? Probably the media... ;-)
>   >
>   >I don't mean this to be a personal attack, on you or anyone else on 
>   >this newsgroup.  Fundamentalists are my brothers and sisters, and 
>   >that takes primacy over whatever other internal squabbles we may
>   >have.  I'm just trying to provide an alternate viewpoint.  There
>   >*are* theologically conservative Christians out there who don't 
>   >want to be labelled as fundamentalists.  That's all.

Yeah, I began to to call myself a "Bible-believing, God fearin Christian."
Apparently, someone had told me that there was a difference between 
fundementalists and Bible-believing Christians... Hmmm... ;(

>   No,I'm sure you didn't mean it as a personal attack, but now I am wondering
>   if it was "ok" to say that I'm a fundementalist theologically. Will I be
>   avoided, shunned from the group? Will you all think I'm some kinda dirtbag
>   or wierdo? Will my views be ignored? Are you afraid I'll come on board with
>   a list of don'ts? Well, let me say this : My favorite band is
>   Tourniquet and I dance. So there ;-) I even listen to secular music (*gasp)
>   and have "secular" friends (double gasp) and in other words, I'm not
>   the stereotype you're thinking of (really! it's true!) sigh. I'm feeling
>   insecure now about having said anything...

Don't be Stacey... Your position is I am sure well-noted if not respected.
Despite what most people may think on this newsgroup, I too dance, and
I do have more non-Christian friends than Christian ones... And, yes...
I have been known to turn on the radio as well...and hear the secular
stuff as well... I do still find it hard to say I am a fundementalist
these days...but deep down I do admit it to myself alot... Its sorta
sad because by someone elses actions...I have already been labeled should
I choose to name myself as such openly... These days, I am most
comfortable being labeled Christian... With all the disputes I get
into on this newsgroup, I want to assure everyone I am not into 
shoving the Bible down people's throats...but I do believe in
no compromise, I do believe that the Bible requires some literal
interpretation, and that I try to base all my points according to
the Bible... God Bless... ;)

>   >
>   >
>   >Andy Whitman
>   >AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
>   >att!cblpn!ajw  or
>   >ajw@cblpn.att.com

>	      --Stacey

						JCHO@nmsu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian