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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
I was with you until you said: "I have far more respect for fundamentalists - at least they are honest with themselves and others about what they truly believe, and have the conviction to see things through."

They may be firm in their beliefs, but many of their beliefs are in conflict with modern science - not good.   And fundamentalists believe they should impose their beliefs on others.

Also, I'd say you are too hung up on the scriptures (much the way fundamentalists are).  Liberal Christians may go overboard in interpreting the Bible to mean whatever they want it to mean, but truly, there is a lot of Biblical scholarship out there, written by seminary professors (not apologists) that indicates that much of the Bible was not meant to be taken literally.[/quote]

Well, the fundamentalists have chosen their side, their religion over everything else. This is what religion teaches and they have followed it. They are honest about it with themselves and others. Now you say that much of the bible was not meant to be taken literally. But with that, you've revealed religion to be hollow and completely artificial, because now you have no foundation on which to base your practice. For example if the religion you believe in claims that Christ died and was resurrected, which conflicts with modern science in a very real sense, do you discount this as a "not meant to be taken literally?"  If that's the case then what really happened? if Jesus wasn't resurrected, then what proof is there that he is the son of God? If he never died in the first place, then how are the sinners of this world redeemed? Was there even a person named Jesus? And if there wasn't....

Where do we draw the line between facts/reality, and teachings/parables?

If no one knows for sure, how can you practice that as a religion, which requires a specific system of belief at its very foundation.

So given the above, while I don't find any religion to be valid or convincing, at least I can appreciate the mindset of the fundamentalist believers.

McLeanAthiest
[/quote]

Please consider that you are making assumptions. Many Fundamentalists have not "chosen" their side -- they were indoctrinated into it as children and stay with it out of fear of eternal damnation.  Others chose it as adults because they were effectively scared into thinking embracing such beliefs was their only hope for eternal life.

Also some religions don't require a specific "system" of belief.  Instead they are very fuzzy.  You can pretty much believe what you want.  They totally accept science.  The religion part  doesn't interfere.[/quote]

I find your reasoning ironic. [b]What is the basis of religion if not fear and indoctrination? [/b]You think any of the moderate Christians woke up one day and said "oh, I think I'll choose Christianity" like making a choice of which brand of yogurt to buy at the store after reading the labels? Moderate Christians likely are Christians because of family or social context, not some personal innate sense of spirituality that drove them there.

Now the part about choice, even if one is indoctrinated while young, once you grow up and become educated, you absolutely have to make a choice between the facts of modern science and the claims of religion. There is no shortage of well educated, intelligent people who are also deeply religious and are fundamentalists - see how many people still believe in the young earth theory because that's the choice they've made even though science has taught them differently.

With regards to religion and its requirement for a system of belief, look up the definition of religion?

“A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that aim to explain the meaning of life, the origin of life, or the Universe.”

You cannot have a religion without organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views.  Now, no one says you can't go on having fuzzy feelings about beliefs, but that's not religion. Call it something else.

[/quote]

Religion is often used for fear and indoctrination, but its simple dictionary  meaning is "binding together" and that is what it was used for by the first humans - building community, as well as an attempt to explain the world around them.   Remember Jehovah and Jesus - and written language -- didn't come around until much later, along with dogma and indoctrination - the bad things associated with religion today.

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