Fundamentalist Mindset

[JustaServant]

What in your opinion, is the psychological/emotional reasons people are attracted to fundamentalist Christianity?
I am asking this of both Catholics AND Protestants, since both are afflicted with this phenomenon.

 

[InJesusItrust]

If fundamentalism consists of believing Genesis is not a metaphor, then I would say I am attracted to it because I believe in a supernatural God that invalidates naturalism. All of our scientific knowledge assumes that only the laws of nature exists–that there is no unknown force not accounted for that can mess up naturalist reasoning. I believe in a God who can break the laws of nature and has by creating the universe from nothing, flooding the earth when people least expected it, sending plagues upon Egypt, and being raised from the dead. It invalidates naturalism, which assumes that the laws of nature are ultimate.

For instance if Adam was created instantly, the naturalist might assume he grew up as a child because all observation shows that man grows gradually. But if God can create out of nothing, why can’t he create an adult or a universe that looks old (from our natural reasoning about the universe)?

 

[Contarini]

If fundamentalism consists of believing Genesis is not a metaphor, then I would say I am attracted to it because I believe in a supernatural God that invalidates naturalism. All of our scientific knowledge assumes that only the laws of nature exists–that there is no unknown force not accounted for that can mess up naturalist reasoning. I believe in a God who can break the laws of nature and has by creating the universe from nothing, flooding the earth when people least expected it, sending plagues upon Egypt, and being raised from the dead. It invalidates naturalism, which assumes that the laws of nature are ultimate.

For instance if Adam was created instantly, the naturalist might assume he grew up as a child because all observation shows that man grows gradually. But if God can create out of nothing, why can’t he create an adult or a universe that looks old (from our natural reasoning about the universe)?

Because this essentially makes God deceptive. It means that the reason God gave us is practically useless, because what looks like evidence could simply be God fooling us.

Believing in the possibility of miracles does not commit us to this kind of “deceptive evidence” position. On the contrary, when the Catholic Church declares something miraculous, it’s because the evidence points toward it being miraculous.

Edwin

 

[InJesusItrust]

So Adam had to be born a child because observations tell us all men are? God is not decieving us; we are misreading the signs. Mary at Akita tells us there was a flood, some saints had visions of it. We are basing our knowledge on our misconceptions.

 

[RPRPsych]

What in your opinion, is the psychological/emotional reasons people are attracted to fundamentalist Christianity?
I am asking this of both Catholics AND Protestants, since both are afflicted with this phenomenon.

Well, I’m a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist, but the following come to mind - this is off the top of my head, so feel free to clean it up

1. Early exposure and indoctrination. Just as one can be a “cradle Catholic”, one can be a “cradle Fundamentalist” if that’s all you have known, and if your parents are positive role models and “attachment figures”.
2. Rebellion against liberalism or indifferentism. Many people who find their parents’ values unsatisfactory, and want to oppose them, derive solace from taking on the opposite view. Just as the child of strict Baptists might become an agnostic or a Buddhist, the reverse can also take place.
3. Social alienation and “belonging”. Fundamentalism gives one a sense of identity and “specialness”, which appeals to those (usually of the middle, working, or poor “classes”) who feel alienated from the mainstream of society. (This argument probably works better with radical Islam, but I don’t see why it couldn’t hold good for at least some Christians.)
4. Certainty. For many men, uncertainty is something very uncomfortable to handle. Fundamentalism provides clear answers, which come with a ready-made stamp of approval. This also ties in with…
5. …Emotion / Psychological defense. Coming to see oneself as “the elect”, “the chosen remnant” or “the predestined” is one heck of a heady feeling, especially if one is dealing with issues of unresolved guilt, grief or inferiority. It’s not a coincidence that both Islam and Calvinism (the roots of much modern fundamentalism, though Calvinism is certainly the more benign of the two) strongly emphasise predestination and being “the elect”.
6. Identity: Related to but distinct to point 3, modern society tends to be rather amorphous, confusing and anonymous. Fundamentalism gives one a sense of identity - an “extended self” if one may coin a term - that is very important for those who feel “lost in the swirl” of modern life.
7. Individual biology and psychology: Persons of a particular temperament (“temperament” is a biological tendency to behave in a particular way) or personality (defined here as one’s habitual way of relating to the world) may be drawn to fundamentalism, just as others may be drawn to agnosticism or liberalism.

I’m sure there are others… curious to see what the rest of you think!

 

[JRKH]

What in your opinion, is the psychological/emotional reasons people are attracted to fundamentalist Christianity?
I am asking this of both Catholics AND Protestants, since both are afflicted with this phenomenon.

Two things…

Simplicity and certainty…

Now - before anyone jumps in and tells me what is wrong with this…just know that this is my opinion as to what is attractive to a fundamentalist “Bible believing” christian outlook…

Peace
James

 

[edward_george]

Two things…

Simplicity and certainty…

Now - before anyone jumps in and tells me what is wrong with this…just know that this is my opinion as to what is attractive to a fundamentalist “Bible believing” christian outlook…

Peace
James

I agree with you here. I wrote my philosophy thesis in the seminary on the philosophical phenomenon of fundamentalism and modern atheism, and how they share a philosophical framework. Intellectual certainty of a kind which is not possible, and thus an utter lack of the mysterious, drive both atheism and fundamentalism.

-ACEGC

 

[Church_Militant]

What in your opinion, is the psychological/emotional reasons people are attracted to fundamentalist Christianity?

Is it a sort of “security blanket” mentality which provides a comforting sense of security in a world where things are not as stable as we would like them to be?

I mean, in a sinful world, where most people are not believers, and general morality is relativistic (at best), do they cling to their own strict interpretations, verse by verse exegesis, and (in the case of dispensationalism) a set view of events in order to try to make sense of of their life in this world?

 

[JustaServant]

Is it a sort of “security blanket” mentality which provides a comforting sense of security in a world where things are not as stable as we would like them to be?

I mean, in a sinful world, where most people are not believers, and general morality is relativistic (at best), do they cling to their own strict interpretations, verse by verse exegesis, and (in the case of dispensationalism) a set view of events in order to try to make sense of of their life in this world?

Like a place of refuge? Good answer.

 

[JustaServant]

Two things…

Simplicity and certainty…

Now - before anyone jumps in and tells me what is wrong with this…just know that this is my opinion as to what is attractive to a fundamentalist “Bible believing” christian outlook…

Peace
James

Excellent point.
And something I have thought about as well, especially certainty.
I’m at an age now where I no longer go around showing everyone how much I “know”. The older one gets, the more one realizes just how much one does not know.
I never made a good fundamentalist because I hung onto an old saying: “Question everything, and when you find what you think looks like an answer, question that”. Fundamentalism insists nobody question ANYTHING. Proper education teaches me to THINK. Fundamentalism resists such a philosophy.
God made us creatures of reason, that reason can be guided by Him, or I can use my own reasoning to try to find what I desire to be the “truth”.
To me, certainty is the playground of the young, or the emotionally immature.

 

[bauerice]

Two things…

Simplicity and certainty…

Now - before anyone jumps in and tells me what is wrong with this…just know that this is my opinion as to what is attractive to a fundamentalist “Bible believing” christian outlook…

Peace
James

Been there, done that! That is correct!

 

[JustaServant]

1. …Emotion / Psychological defense. Coming to see oneself as “the elect”, “the chosen remnant” or “the predestined” is one heck of a heady feeling, especially if one is dealing with issues of unresolved guilt, grief or inferiority. It’s not a coincidence that both Islam and Calvinism (the roots of much modern fundamentalism, though Calvinism is certainly the more benign of the two) strongly emphasise predestination and being “the elect”.

Good.
Wanting to be on the “right side”, is certainly a strong draw. If one believes that he or she has experienced what no other has (being “born again”), and possesses what others other than them could not possibly have (the Holy Spirit), it creates an elitist world-view that allows only those to whom we agree with, to enter.
It certainly boosts the self-esteem of those who have a low self image.
If I can ‘be sure’ who is going to Heaven (those who repeated a sinners prayer), than I can also be sure who is going to Hell (those who have not). This ‘knowledge’ of who is destined for Hell plays into a destructive psychological pattern. There is a strange and sick satisfaction of ‘knowing’ our enemies are ‘burning in Hell’. It gives us a feeling of ‘justice’.

 

[Della]

I rise in defense of a certain type of fundamentalism–that of believing that there are some things that are absolutely true and others that are absolutely false. And one must trust some kind of authority or simply make it up as one goes along, which has more pitfalls than trusting that our ancestors had just as many brains as we do and that revealed truth is truth.

Having said that, one must know which authority to trust, and therein lies the problem, I think. For the fundamentalist it usually is some kind of written document they can point to and say, “See, it says so right here!” What the fundamentalist doen’t seem to grasp is that authority lies in persons not in documents, no matter how sacred or factual or seemingly undeniable.

This is why Christ founded a living Magisterium instead of simply having Matthew or one of the other Apostles write down everything he said to pass it along to succeeding generations, saying, “Look at this writing for everything you need to know.” Jesus was wise and saw that people will twist written documents to fit what they want to believe/want to do. Using written documents as ends in themselves is what keeps fundamentalists of every stripe so sure, and why it’s so hard to shift them.

 

[JustaServant]

I rise in defense of a certain type of fundamentalism–that of believing that there are some things that are absolutely true and others that are absolutely false. And one must trust some kind of authority or simply make it up as one goes along, which has more pitfalls than trusting that our ancestors had just as many brains as we do and that revealed truth is truth.

Having said that, one must know which authority to trust, and therein lies the problem, I think. For the fundamentalist it usually is some kind of written document they can point to and say, “See, it says so right here!” What the fundamentalist doen’t seem to grasp is that authority lies in persons not in documents, no matter how sacred or factual or seemingly undeniable.

This is why Christ founded a living Magisterium instead of simply having Matthew or one of the other Apostles write down everything he said to pass it along to succeeding generations, saying, “Look at this writing for everything you need to know.” Jesus was wise and saw that people will twist written documents to fit what they want to believe/want to do. Using written documents as ends in themselves is what keeps fundamentalists of every stripe so sure, and why it’s so hard to shift them.

Not absolutes, which fundamentalists fail on anyway. But as another poster said an intellectual certainty of a kind which is not possible. Then it would not be called faith.
Years ago I remember the fundamentalist preacher saying “I’m as sure for Heaven as if I’m already there”. That’s not faith. The preacher reveals an arrogant surety of not only of his OWN destiny, but reveals a darker concept of a surety of others who do not have this certainty.

 

[jericho777]

If fundamentalism consists of believing Genesis is not a metaphor, then I would say I am attracted to it because I believe in a supernatural God that invalidates naturalism. All of our scientific knowledge assumes that only the laws of nature exists–that there is no unknown force not accounted for that can mess up naturalist reasoning. I believe in a God who can break the laws of nature and has by creating the universe from nothing, flooding the earth when people least expected it, sending plagues upon Egypt, and being raised from the dead. It invalidates naturalism, which assumes that the laws of nature are ultimate.

For instance if Adam was created instantly, the naturalist might assume he grew up as a child because all observation shows that man grows gradually. But if God can create out of nothing, why can’t he create an adult or a universe that looks old (from our natural reasoning about the universe)?

I very much concour with your post. There is one thing I think you may consider about your comment of God “breaking the laws of nature”. I do not think God is necessarily breaking the laws of nature in as much as He is operating outside of or above or is not bound by them because of His Divine nature. It could be our perception of His actions but not the reality of it.

We have been so conditioned to accept the word of science as gospel and to disregard the historic actions of an omnipotent God. I think further more most scientists would like to take the place of God themselves. After all they claim to prove God does not exist leaving them as the all knowing.

 

[JustaServant]

I very much concour with your post. There is one thing I think you may consider about your comment of God “breaking the laws of nature”. I do not think God is necessarily breaking the laws of nature in as much as He is operating outside of or above or is not bound by them because of His Divine nature. It could be our perception of His actions but not the reality of it.

We have been so conditioned to accept the word of science as gospel and to disregard the historic actions of an omnipotent God. I think further more most scientists would like to take the place of God themselves. After all they claim to prove God does not exist leaving them as the all knowing.

Of course this thread is not about creation/evolution. Nor is it stated in the OP that belief in Genesis is what defines fundamentalism.

 

[RileyG]

I know a woman who was raised Baptist and she liked the exciting sermons, evidently. She agreed to go to her husband’s Presbyterian church but it wasn’t exciting enough for her, so she decided to go back to her Baptist roots.

 

[Della]

Not absolutes, which fundamentalists fail on anyway. But as another poster said an intellectual certainty of a kind which is not possible. Then it would not be called faith.
Years ago I remember the fundamentalist preacher saying “I’m as sure for Heaven as if I’m already there”. That’s not faith. The preacher reveals an arrogant surety of not only of his OWN destiny, but reveals a darker concept of a surety of others who do not have this certainty.

I did not have personal assurance in mind, rather that we know certain things are true because we trust the one who told us about them, and that person would be Christ and his Church. And we trust him because he proved himself true and trustworthy. We cannot trust in ourselves or in what we think we know, only in that which God has revealed, of matters of faith and morals, that is. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Publisher]

What in your opinion, is the psychological/emotional reasons people are attracted to fundamentalist Christianity?
I am asking this of both Catholics AND Protestants, since both are afflicted with this phenomenon.

Fundamentalism tends ot be “certain” of it’s beliefs to the point of “unbending” certainty. People do not like to “take the chance” that they might be wrong in relation to their “eternal destiny”…to tend to drift toward more authortarian religious communites. They “need” to be told what to beleive, as they think some “special” leadership would have answers they themselves would not be able to find…they want to be told how to act…who to vote for…what books to read…what religious services to attend and not attend. They live in “fear” of being deceived by the devil…they doubt their own God-given “right” to “work out their own salvation”…they “want” someone to supply the answers…takes them “off the hook”.

It’s a “comfortable” place to be…out here where I live in the “Vast Uncertainty” I live in…get’s difficult at times…I think fundamentalists forget about God’s mercy and grace and love and compassion and concentrate on His wrath and displeasure.

 

[JustaServant]

I did not have personal assurance in mind, rather that we know certain things are true because we trust the one who told us about them, and that person would be Christ and his Church. And we trust him because he proved himself true and trustworthy. We cannot trust in ourselves or in what we think we know, only in that which God has revealed, of matters of faith and morals, that is. Sorry for any confusion.