Christian extremism is a poorly understood and often neglected phenomenon. Although we are constantly hearing about Muslim extremists, America is plagued with a Christian extremist movement which we ignore at our peril. Christian...
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Christian extremism is a poorly understood and often neglected phenomenon. Although we are constantly hearing about Muslim extremists, America is plagued with a Christian extremist movement which we ignore at our peril. Christian extremism includes the components of Christian fundamentalism (i.e., biblical inerrancy, evangelism, premillenialism, separatism/sense of persecution, and biblical literalism with regard to creation) and adds some additional components (e.g., exclusivity, anti-intellectualism, social conservatism/anti-liberalism, intolerance, theocratic strivings, and militant opposition to modernism).
They may spend more time bemoaning the "evils" of secularism when someone gives them a microphone, but Christian extremists also view progressive Christians as their enemies . Many go so far as to call them "fake Christians" even though it is usually their politics on which the disagreement centers. We atheists must be careful about not lumping all Christians together. In a fairly religious country such as the United States, we can find important allies against Christian extremism among many... Read Full Story
We hear quite a bit about about religious extremism in other parts of the world but very little about Christian extremism right here in America. Don't get me wrong - Islamic extremism is a real concern and deserves the attention it receives. However, I think it is a mistake to completely ignore Christian extremism at home. I suppose it would be accurate to say that one of the main reasons I maintain this blog is to call attention to what I perceive as a neglected issue: Christian extremism in... Read Full Story
While reading an interesting post at Mike's Weekly Skeptic Rant , I had an interesting thought I'd like to share. The atheist blogosphere is filled with criticism for the Christian right, and Christian extremism is increasingly recognized as a pox on American society. So how come we almost never hear about Jewish extremism? I'm not just talking about the mainstream media here but about what you'll find on atheist blogs, including this one. Frankly, Jewish extremism is something about which I... Read Full Story
When I was in high school we used to have a f ather-daughter banquet once a year. It was nice. But I wasn't asked to pledge my ever lasting virginity to Dad , Nor did he give me a ring in return for keeping my hymen intact and we didn't do any follow up dating. But that very thing is the newest innovation in fundie creepiness . If you haven't ever heard of Purity Balls you should get on your knees right now and thank god and pray that I get struck down for ruining your day. It begins in a... Read Full Story
He won Iowa , and he's here to "take this nation back for Christ." He's Mike Huckabee, and he could end up winning the Republican nominee for 2008 even though he remains an embarrassment to many Republicans. He appears to be a genuine Christian extremist, and there seems to be little place in Huckabee's America for nonbelievers, homosexuals, a woman's right to choose, and even science . It is not quite time to panic, but it is also no time for apathy. This story from the Associated Press... Read Full Story
It is not often that I get to do a post praising progressive Christians for standing up against the forces of Christian extremism, but this is just such an occasion. I am pleased to see this report from Gary Vance, an evangelical pastor/writer from Tennessee, that the Institute for Progressive Christianity, a progressive Christian think tank, is speaking out against Christian extremism in America. As Vance points out, it is not easy for the voice of progressive Christians to be heard above... Read Full Story
While we celebrate Mother's Day today, I ask you to remember what can happen when a mother becomes lost to the grip of Christian extremism. Back in March, we learned of the sad story of a Wisconsin couple who allowed their 11-year-old diabetic daughter to die because they preferred prayer to medical treatment. It now appears that the state has decided to prosecute the parents on charges of second-degree reckless homicide. I am happy to see criminal prosecution in this case, and I hope it... Read Full Story
While we celebrate Mother's Day today, I ask you to remember what can happen when a mother becomes lost to the grip of Christian extremism. Back in March, we learned of the sad story of a Wisconsin couple who allowed their 11-year-old diabetic daughter to die because they preferred prayer to medical treatment. It now appears that the state has decided to prosecute the parents on charges of second-degree reckless homicide. I am happy to see criminal prosecution in this case, and I hope it... Read Full Story
My esteemed colleague and fellow Mississippi Atheists contributor, Oliver, has been inspired by Hemant Mehta ( Friendly Atheist ) to begin a series of posts reporting on his experience at various churches in the South (mostly Mississippi). The most recent post in Oliver's Non-Believer in Church series is absolutely terrifying and reminds me that we still have much work to do in opposing Christian extremism. Oliver's description of the manner in which the pastor at First Free Will Baptist... Read Full Story
I'd like to preface this with a couple of comments. First, in America anyone has the right to say anything they want. And when it comes to teenage kids, I have always noticed that evangelical Christian s are almost always more healthy and attractive looking than the run of the mill kid. But, I do have a problem when a 46 year old man, who appears to be more than a bit off his rocker, forms an organization called Teen Mania , and hauls these kids around the country to openly scream at the... Read Full Story
