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Silversoul
Rhizome


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Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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The essence of fundamentalism
#5608718 - 05/09/06 01:07 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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So last night I was watching that National Geographic special about the Gospel of Judas, and in one part they were talking about the usefulness of apocryphal gospels in Christian understanding. One guy they interviewed was Robert H. Schuler, a televangelist and founder of a megachurch known as the Crystal Cathedral. He said something along the lines of "I don't need anything other than Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I mean WOW! What more could you need? What greater message could you have than that? I can't imagine it." I muttered under my breath "That's because you lack imagination." Then I thought about that. A lack of imagination: Isn't that what fundamentalism is all about? Symbols, metaphors, and parables go right over their heads, and they insist that the way they read a passage is the only way to read it. Anyway, I just thought I'd remind everyone to use their imagination every once in a while.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5608749 - 05/09/06 01:15 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Isn't that what fundamentalism is all about?
At least in part. It's likely more sinsiter than that.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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gluke bastid
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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5608867 - 05/09/06 01:50 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yep, and by taking all subjectivity out of the writings they worship, they therefore create for themselves a whole bunch of absolutes. Probably pretty comforting if you lack the stamina to deal with living in an era where there aren't any absolutes anymore.
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Society in every form is a blessing, but government at its best is but a necessary evil - Thomas Paine
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BlueCoyote
Beyond


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5608916 - 05/09/06 02:06 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Not a lack of imagination, but a oneway of imagination. A lack of multitude therein.
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Basilides
Servent ofWisdom


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5609739 - 05/09/06 06:18 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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It's also a matter of intelligence I think. Fundamentalists tend to be Extroverted types, and the lack of intuition usually results in confusing myths with historicities.
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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OldWoodSpecter
waiting


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5609778 - 05/09/06 06:29 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Silversoul said: So last night I was watching that National Geographic special about the Gospel of Judas, and in one part they were talking about the usefulness of apocryphal gospels in Christian understanding. One guy they interviewed was Robert H. Schuler, a televangelist and founder of a megachurch known as the Crystal Cathedral. He said something along the lines of "I don't need anything other than Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I mean WOW! What more could you need? What greater message could you have than that? I can't imagine it." I muttered under my breath "That's because you lack imagination." Then I thought about that. A lack of imagination: Isn't that what fundamentalism is all about? Symbols, metaphors, and parables go right over their heads, and they insist that the way they read a passage is the only way to read it. Anyway, I just thought I'd remind everyone to use their imagination every once in a while.
Well taking these things literally is one way of seeing it. One with imagination could imagine it in that way too, as in other ways. If he lacks imagination he will only stick to one possible explanation. One can also be tied to a metaphorical explanation of these texts as a result of lack of imagination. It's all about considering the possibilities.
-------------------- I descend upon your earth from the skies I command your very souls you unbelievers Bring before me what is mine
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OldWoodSpecter
waiting


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Basilides]
#5609780 - 05/09/06 06:30 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Basilides said: It's also a matter of intelligence I think. Fundamentalists tend to be Extroverted types, and the lack of intuition usually results in confusing myths with historicities.
While, I think there is truth in what you say, I also think this is an attack. The easiest thing you can say to beat your oponent is: your views are a result of lower intelligence
-------------------- I descend upon your earth from the skies I command your very souls you unbelievers Bring before me what is mine
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Basilides
Servent ofWisdom


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It's not really about someone's ascension, but someone elses own descension. Someone who is about Love and Compassion will always be above, and probably more intelligent, than someone who subverts into judgementalism and hate.
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    "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Re: The essence of fundamentalism [Re: Silversoul]
#5610226 - 05/09/06 08:07 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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We watched that too and we both felt that we came away from TV viewing with something worthwhile for a change. Yes, I used to watch Schuler in his 'Crystal Cathedral' once upon a time. What a vision of Christianity - what a gimmick. I always sensed a teller of myth without any personal transformation going on in the man. Last night's comments juxtaposed his extraverted non-metaphysical, non-transpersonal psychology with Gnostic Christianity. How sterile it seemed.
-------------------- γνῶθι σαὐτόν - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself
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