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To: tpaine
I see these extreme reactions from self described 'conservative' fundamentalists virtually every day here at FR.

You see comments posted that you interpret as "extreme reactions"--just as the author of this piece interprets fundamentalism as an "extreme reaction." The author attributes this as a reaction to the perceived immorality and complexity of the modern world. You omit any attribution regarding the source of the "reaction." What do you think the "fundamentalists" are "reacting" to?

And neither the author nor you give any evidence that would in any way prove that these actions are indeed "reactions" to anything. Perhaps the truth is exactly what the author says it is (including the correctness of Catholicism) but no evidence is given for his bald assertions. Of course, he is not available to correct this.

You, on the other hand, have the opportunity to give evidence for your claim. Let me ask you again, and I will make my question as specific as possible: What thing or things specifically do you believe that fundamentalists are "reacting" to? And what evidence can you present here that would support the claim that fundamentalism is a "reaction" to those things--or to anything else, for that matter?

I suspect that the truth is a little different. Perhaps the author detests fundamentalism. Perhaps the author thinks that he understands the "flawed origins" of fundamentalism, and that by thus explaining away this phenomenon simply as a reaction of simplistic people, it will become a little less attractive to all right-thinking folks. Perhaps your aims are not that different from the author's. In this case, neither of you would let a little thing like lack of evidence slow you down!

Please, try to say it isn't so. - I wish it wasn't.

I won't say it isn't so, because I have no hard evidence to establish my claim. In case you haven't figured it out yet, it is nearly impossible to obtain unequivocal evidence for claims regarding the reasons for human behavior, both in individuals and in groups. So it comes to this: it is easy to observe what fundamentalists (or libertarians, or whatever group) actually do, but to say why they do them is nothing but conjecture. And when someone such as this author purports to give the reasons for what fundamentalists do, I would suggest (without proof) that it is more likely that he has an agenda to push than it is that he has rare insight into the human condition.

But don't let lack of evidence slow your agenda down. You're clearly on a roll.

45 posted on 08/08/2002 5:07:55 PM PDT by Kyrie
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To: Kyrie
Kyrie:
Fundamentalism may oppose the immorality of today's world, and may appear to oppose its complexity, but how does the author expect to establish his claim that fundamentalism is an extreme reaction etc.? --- Perhaps you would be so kind...?
________________________________

I see these extreme reactions from self described 'conservative' fundamentalists virtually every day here at FR.
- They defend a states 'right' [Ca.] to prohibit 'assault weapons'.
--- They defend the federal WoDs.
They even defend the silly act of congress that we must call ourselves a nation 'under' God, and rant that we should make an amendment to that effect.
On & on, you can go through most any thread, and get such fundamentalist fervor.

Please, try to say it isn't so. - I wish it wasn't.
________________________________
What thing or things specifically do you believe that fundamentalists are "reacting" to? And what evidence can you present here that would support the claim that fundamentalism is a "reaction" to those things--or to anything else, for that matter? Kyrie


Read my post above. I made specific points on the over-reactions I see every day at FR.
You can't address them or understand them? Sorry bout that.
47 posted on 08/08/2002 5:32:59 PM PDT by tpaine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]

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