# I pit fundamentalists **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 13, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184 "2004-06-13T22:03:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/1 "2004-06-13T22:03:06Z")
Fundamentalists are people who think picking up a Bible, Koran, etc automatically gives someone a moral authority of others. They are people who think dialogue is worthless since they have the ultimate truth and anyone who disagrees is evil. They are people who think that ever being wrong is a failure and not an opportunity for growth. They think that education and faith are mutually exclusive. They are people who forget that God is in control of history, and thus think they are doing God’s will by being political. And, it is much more natural for a fundamentalist to condemn then to assist. Thus: A fundamentalist is like a man who went swimming with his children and friends. The pool was crowded and everyone was having a good time. Now since this man was a poor swimmer, everyone splashing and making waves gave him trouble. So, he yelled and cursed at everyone to stop swimming, and ruined everyone’s time. He is like a man who found a book of medicine and began reading it. Not being able to read very well, he misinterpreted it and began to believe that all of his friends had a disease. He forced them to take the wrong medicine and lay down for a weeks to recover from a disease they didn’t have. He is like a music teacher who wasn’t skilled enough to play the highest notes on the trumpet. So, he forbid any musical pieces that used the highest notes, so that his students would never outdo him and embarass him. He is like a little kid who was playing so nicely with and being so friendly to his friends that his mom gave him a special toy to share. Once he had it, he was so afraid that the other kids would steal it that he went and locked himself in his room and insulted the other kids who tried to come in. And so he forgot the reason he was given it in the first place. They’re like a bunch of other things, too. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/2 "2004-06-13T22:45:37Z")
are they like kittens who chase after a ball of yarn, too? ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/3 "2004-06-13T23:16:42Z")
You forgot to mention those fundamental atheists… Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/4 "2004-06-13T23:39:16Z")
He is an internet user, incapable of offering any original insight or even of inventing amusing analogies. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/5 "2004-06-13T23:57:43Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > He is an internet user, incapable of offering any original insight or even of inventing amusing analogies. Perhaps, but that doesn’t detract from the essential stupidity of adults who believe that Mesopotamia Just-so stories are a magical guide to 21st century life. > [@](#): > > You forgot to mention those fundamental atheists… Oh, yeah, like the ones who fly airplanes into buildings or start wars because they believe they are God’s anointed leader. Oh, wait. . .that would be Muslims and Christians. There’s no such thing as a fundamentalist atheist because fundamentalism is a reactionary form of _theism_. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/6 "2004-06-14T00:04:51Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > There’s no such thing as a fundamentalist atheist because fundamentalism is a reactionary form of _theism_. No, actually the word can refer to anyone who rigidly adheres to a set of fundamental principles–atheists can certainly do that. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/7 "2004-06-14T00:08:24Z")
Is that what fundamentalism means? Do atheists Have fundamental principals(or would that be the principal of God not exisiting?)In other ways they differ. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/8 "2004-06-14T00:11:41Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > You forgot to mention those fundamental atheists… > Salaam. A Um, refer me to these fundemental atheists you speak of. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/9 "2004-06-14T00:14:16Z")
As an athiest, I can’t see how there’s any stronger or weaker degree of not believing in God. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/10 "2004-06-14T00:14:53Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > They’re like a bunch of other things, too. Yeah!!! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/11 "2004-06-14T00:26:07Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > No, actually the word can refer to anyone who rigidly adheres to a set of fundamental principles–atheists can certainly do that. Say huh? Atheism is just a lack of belief in deities. There’s no such thing as a liberal atheist or a moderate atheist or a fundamentalist atheist. Now you might be talking about intolerant atheists like the late Madalyn Murray O’Hare, who was actively antagonistic toward theism, but to call that “fundamentalist” is to play jabberwocky with English. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/12 "2004-06-14T00:30:02Z")
I just checked messages on a healthcare-related e-mail list I belong to, and lo and behold there was a missive from a truth fighter which reminded me of the OP for some strange reason. His huffy farewell message to the list begins as follows: "Everyone, I have better things to do with my time and my life than spend my time attempting to reason with EXTREMELY biased and VERY unreasonable people. I have never before encountered such a BIASED, ARROGANT group of people in my life, and I have spent the last 2 1/2 years of my life dealing with religious fundamentalists on a daily basis via my website, which is located here: [http://www.religionisbullshit.com](http://www.religionisbullshit.com)." Classic. It should be noted that I am an agnostic, and would be an athiest if it wasn’t too much work. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/13 "2004-06-14T01:05:08Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Now you might be talking about intolerant atheists like the late Madalyn Murray O’Hare, who was actively antagonistic toward theism, but to call that “fundamentalist” is to play jabberwocky with English. Not really. Let’s look at one of the definitions: > [@dictionary.com](#): > > A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism. I think characterizing an an intolerant atheist who refuses to acknowledge even the possibility that a deity of some kind exists as “fundamentalist” is perfectly fine by the above definition. I mean, you (indefinite sense, not necessarily **Gobear** ) have a rigid adherence to a set of fundamental beliefs (i.e., there is no God) and intolerance of other views. I could see how a reasonable person could disagree, though. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/14 "2004-06-14T01:06:14Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > As an athiest, I can’t see how there’s any stronger or weaker degree of not believing in God. So only someone who is always 100% sure that there’s no God of any sort is an atheist? The rest are agnostic? ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/15 "2004-06-14T01:22:11Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > So only someone who is always 100% sure that there’s no God of any sort is an atheist? The rest are agnostic? Er…pretty sure how that’s how it works. Atheist means you don’t believe in God. How can you “kinda” believe in something? You either think it exists, or you don’t. Don’t you? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/16 "2004-06-14T01:34:55Z")
What Cerri said. It has always been my understanding that an atheist DOES NOT believe in God. Agnostics are not sure. I can’t “not believe in God” any more than I already do. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/17 "2004-06-14T01:35:09Z")
Well… There are a hell of a lot more “fundementalist” christians and muslims than there are athiests, so Phhhhhhtttt. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/18 "2004-06-14T01:44:12Z")
Interesting. Atheism is not like other “-isms,” however. It has no dogma. No set of rules. It is merely a word to describe the lack of belief in dieties. That’s _all_ it is. Please don’t confuse it with a religion. The closest it comes to being one is that it is a religious opinion. M.M. O’Hair was an atheist and an _asshole_ as well. Despite any good she may have accomplished for the cause of religious freedom, her abrasiveness took center stage. Describing her and those of her ilk as “fundamentalists” twists the definition of the word so it has no meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/19 "2004-06-14T01:46:58Z")
> [@Cerri](#): > > Er…pretty sure how that’s how it works. Atheist means you don’t believe in God. How can you “kinda” believe in something? You either think it exists, or you don’t. > > Don’t you? 😕 Actually, it’s not at all uncommon to assign probabilities to beliefs (e.g., it’s possible that I forgot to turn off the stove before I left for work, but I’m pretty sure I did turn it off; or, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a God, but it’s impossible to know for sure). It’s relatively common to recognize a continuum of atheistic beliefs (“soft” atheism and “hard” atheism"). [Wikipedia has a good article on it.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist#Definition_and_scope) ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184/20 "2004-06-14T01:54:03Z")
Well, I suppose Brandus’ post describes me pretty well. Granted, I played trombone instead of trumpet. And of course I had to cover up the somewhat phallic shape of the instrument with a towel. :wally [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fundamentalists/250184.md?page=2)