Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cbsck.UUCP Path: utzoo!lsuc!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbsck!pmd From: pmd@cbsck.UUCP (Paul M. Dubuc) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, Jerry Falwell and Reagan Message-ID: <1734@cbsck.UUCP> Date: Fri, 20-Dec-85 09:32:19 EST Article-I.D.: cbsck.1734 Posted: Fri Dec 20 09:32:19 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 22-Dec-85 02:49:23 EST References: <1704@cbsck.UUCP>, <451@whuts.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories , Columbus Lines: 64 >Maybe the bad associations with the term "fundamentalist" comes from >the absurdity of their claims. When fundamentalists say they take >the Bible "literally" and then go on to launch ridiculous attacks on >known facts of science such as evolution, they look pretty absurd. Yea, any majority and make a minority look foolish, even if that minority is right about some things. I'm not a true believer in evolution myself. To say that in the face of this flag waving assertion gets me slammed as a fundamentalist, I suppose, even though I don't consider myself one. I would agree with you that there are some ridiculous attacks made on evolution, but you seem to charactarize attacks on evolution as ridiculous (without argument, even). From my perspective, all I see is one-sided ignorance in such a claim. Your assertions are as bad as the fundamentalists (not all, but some) who make sweeping generalizations and characterizations of people who hold views to which they are opposed. It's not only some fundamentalists who criticize evolution. But again, to make such distinctions takes some of the effectiveness out of the bashing you can do against people with terms like "fundamentalist". >Do fundamentalists take Christ's admonition to "preach the Gospel >in the four corners of the Earth" as evidence for a flat Earth? >Why not? Do they take the Bible literally or not? >Or how about this passage from Joshua 10:13: > "Sun, stand thou still at Gibeon, and thou Moon in the > valley of Ai'jalon." > And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until > the nation took vengeance on their enemies. > Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stayed > the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for > about a whole day. > >This passage and others were used by fundamentalists who took the >Bible literally as late as 1893 to argue that the *SUN* moved >around the Earth and the Earth stayed still. >Currently similar absurdities are being hurled as "refutations" >of evolution. So everyone who calls herself a fundamentalist Christian must hold these beliefs? See what wonderful things you can do with pejorative terms? Dig up enough examples like this (no matter if they represent a minority of those who call themselves fundamentalists) and pretty soon a word people have chosen to describe their beliefs becomes equated with beliefs most people regard as foolish. Then all you have to do to make someone look like a fool is use the term "fundamentalist" on them (That's what they've been calling themselves, isn't it?). So, now, don't forget that the "fundamentalists" who disagree with Tim Sevener's opinion are all flat earthers and it makes any difference of opinion with them seem weighted on his side--no matter what the issue. >Is it any wonder such beliefs incur ridicule and pejorative associations? > tim sevener whuxn!orb No, it isn't any wonder. Especially when the ideological enemies of such people help to keep those associations alive and stretch them to cover people who don't deserve to be associated with such beliefs for the sake of their own looking good by contrast. Enough said, -- Paul Dubuc {ihnp4, cbsogd}!cbsck!pmd The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world ... John 1:9