MetaFilter posts tagged with Fundamentalism

The Struggle For the Soul of Islam

reenum — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:29:06 -0800

Back in 2004, the Chicago Tribune published an investigative series about the state of Islam after 9/11. They hit many prescient topics, such as: - Islam's origins and how militant groups developed within the faith. - An anecdote about how hard line fundamentalists won over the congregation at a mosque in Bridgeview, IL. - The Saudi financing of militant groups. - Egypt's shift from moderate Islam to fundamentalism. - Tensions in Iran between hard liners and people yearning for greater freedom in society. - The growth of the International Muslim Brotherhood within the United States. - The story of Ismail Maasawabi, a Palestinian youth who became a suicide bomber in Gaza. - How Turkey has remained a moderate Muslim state. - The influence of madrassas in the growing fundamentalism in Pakistan. - The conflict between moderate and fundamentalist groups in Indonesia. - The spread of Islam in Europe. - An anecdote about an Islamic school in France. - How the children of Muslim immigrants to the U.S. balance these two cultures. -The role American foreign policy has played in the rise of fundamentalism.

"There's an audience for the story...largely the result of Senator John Ensign's libido..."

jonp72 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:42:57 -0800

Jesus Plus Nothing, Minus Somalia: How the Christian fundamentalism of The Family (also known as the C Street Fellowship) turned Somalia into the next staging ground for Islamic radicalism.

"The Unlikely Disciple" - a closer look at living in religion

mdn — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:49:09 -0800

Kevin Roose leaves Brown for Falwell's Liberty U, for one semester - to take a "term abroad" in an alternate America. Possibly reminiscent of Jesus Camp, in that it manages to share the fundamentalist experience without judgment. Just intriguing anthropology, for anyone not familiar...

Torture and Religion

adamvasco — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:39:27 -0800

The PEW survey recently released; summarised by Andrew Sullivan reveals that evangelicals are most likely to approve of torture.
This survey coincides with Harpers May edition lead article ( presently behind a subscription firewall) extracted here. The article is by Jeff Sharlet - (previously: How the Christian right is reimagining U.S. history). The two are not unrelated. The division of the world into God's people and Satan's people enabled the Bush Administration to support the most devilish behavior imaginable, all in the name of righteousness, as shown by General Boykin then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Culture & Barbarism

Dumsnill — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:25:40 -0800

Metaphysics in a Time of Terrorism. (via)

I want a girl with a long skirt and a loooooong jacket.

cereselle — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:51:05 -0800

Apparently, no clothing is more exciting or controversial than an ankle-length skirt and puffed sleeves. The FLDS has launched an online store where members of the general public can purchase the dresses, long underwear, and other ranch-wear "as seen on TV." Though dressing modestly is a hallmark of the (regular) LDS church, the FLDS goes to the extreme. (See also the Amish and Mennonites.) But they aren't the only fundamentalist Christians to tout modesty in women's clothing. Other sects believe women should dress this way, including wearing dresses only (no, not THAT dress, you masculine hussy), long skirts, even everyday head coverings. The increase in popularity of this clothing is seen in the explosion of cottage businesses run by women out of their homes. (See the late Lydia of Purple's site for one of the longest URLs you'll ever find.) Not sure whether your clothing is truly modest? Ask the menfolk. (Previously on MeFi.)

Do you seek to live a "more abundant life?"

JHarris — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:52:43 -0800

Matt Taibbi goes undercover in one of pastor John Hagee's "Encounter" weekends. Yes, the Hagee who recently endorsed John McCain. Published in Rolling Stone, and a part of Taibbi's forthcoming book The Great Derangement.

The most influential evangelical you've never heard of.

EarBucket — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:15:19 -0800

D. James Kennedy , father of Christian Dominionism, has died.

How Would Jesus Rock?

jonp72 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:13:48 -0800

Christs, Communists, & Rock 'n' Roll is an excellent introduction to a tradition of anti-rock writings and recordings by the Religious Right. In the 1960s, there was David Noebel who wrote Communism, Hypnotism, & the Beatles and The Marxist Minstrels. In the early 1970s, Reverend Riblett constructs a seven-foot cross out of rock music records and sets it aflame with gasoline. Michael Mills finds hidden Satanic messages in Bow Wow Wow and the Grateful Dead, while Bob Larson valiantly debates Mandy, a 13-year-old fan of the Cure. The motherlode is probably the cassettes of John Todd, who traveled the fundamentalist circuit in the 1970s claiming to be a former witch and a member of the Illuminati, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. (more inside)

Science and Islam

homunculus — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:19 -0800

Science and the Islamic world—The quest for rapprochement. "Internal causes led to the decline of Islam's scientific greatness long before the era of mercantile imperialism. To contribute once again, Muslims must be introspective and ask what went wrong."

Iranian man stoned to death for adultery after serving 11-year prison sentence

shivohum — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:19:43 -0800

Iranian man stoned to death for adultery after serving 11-year prison sentence. Unsuccessful, unofficial investigation here. Amnesty International pleads for life of his partner.

Fight Knight

WPW — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 05:07:50 -0800

Sir Salman Rushdie versus the Republic of Pakistan. Rushdie is not one to shy from confrontation (previously) - he's a grand master of the fine art * of the literary feud, sparring with notables including Germaine Greer, John Updike, John Le Carre and (briefly) Martin Amis.

with open arms

yonation — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:35:34 -0800

My half year in hell... Foreign exchange students are often deceived and economically abused by their hosts, with incidents on the rise across the US. The CSFES reports often on these horror stories. Sadly, students are also treated horribly by the US government, even though academic experts say they are more essential than ever.

Is it time to get excited?

pandaharma — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 05:27:58 -0800

Is it time to get excited? Looking at the Rapture News, I'd say yes! However, the Rapture Index (previously) remains unchanged. For some, the timing is in doubt.

Catholics are the New York Yankees of Christianity.

monju_bosatsu — Mon, 22 May 2006 08:35:40 -0800

The Interpretative Dance Theocrats. Inspired by Salon's excerpt from Michelle Goldberg's new book, Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, this handy guide will resolve your confusion over Christian theological jargon. [via]

Oh, you pretty things

Mean Mr. Bucket — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:08:16 -0800

Steering Them Wrong: How Schools Push Kids to Accept Pro-Gay Dogma.

who will send this

svenvog — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:13:54 -0800

Who will send this -er- Apology letter to us- um left belowers if all the predispensationalist and milleniest fundies are raptured? via the awesome growabrain

Gay Teens Executed in Iran

digaman — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:34:51 -0800

Iran executes two teenagers. Their crime? Making love. Homosexuality is a crime under Sharia law. Meanwhile, newly "liberated" Iraq moves closer to embedding traditional Islamic laws in its new constitution, reducing rights for women. Will Iraqi gays be the next to suffer the wrath of "Allah's law" after years of secular oppression under Saddam Hussein?

Thank you sir! May I have another?

thedevildancedlightly — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:23:47 -0800

The legislature is trying to impose its conception of "family values" on the state by banning spanking. Another case of religious fundamentalists imposing their values on everyone and meddling with individual liberties? Meet the sponsor. (Also see recent non-binding resolution nearby.)

Creationism: God's gift to the ignorant

bshort — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:09:06 -0800

Creationism: God's gift to the ignorant - Richard Dawkins talks about how the Fundamentalists distort science.

Ethan Acres

TimothyMason — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 13:37:55 -0800

Ethan Acres demonstrates the Rapture. The Reverend Acres is both a preacher, who wants to "put the fun back into fundamentalism" (turn the sound down) and an art school graduate. He will christen your children if they so desire (and if they are flowers). And he really, really likes Thomas Kinkade. I just wish I could show you his pigs, but you'll have to go to the library.

Why won't homos let us hate and just accept their Hell-bound fate?

schroedinger — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 02:33:16 -0800

April 14, 2005: The Day of Truth. On April 13th thousands of students will don black-and-red t-shirts and remain quiet for the ninth Day of Silence in order to "recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment--in effect, the silencing--experienced by LGBT students and their allies." But this year the Alliance Defense Fund, "a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth [yes, "Truth" is capitalized] through strategy, training, funding, and litigation," plans to add a twist to the occasion by following up with its so called Day of Truth in order to protest the homosexual agenda and promote their interpretation of Christianity. Though in their "Hostile Questions" section they claim they're not Day of Silence copycats, in addition to the silent treatment like their DoS foes students who register will receive t-shirts and explanation cards to distribute to inquiring minds, albeit with a slightly altered message. But will it draw participants? Well, Clint Armstrong can't wait--he staged a protest of his own last year.

Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School

acrobat — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 03:46:54 -0800

Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School? WTF? That's what I thought when I first read it. I read more and again I said: WTF? This can't be right! So, I looked around a bit and I realised some people had already a different perspective on this.

fundamentalism on the march

madamjujujive — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 22:47:01 -0800

Christ's Entry Into Washington 2008 is a painting by Joel Pelletier featuring a cast of 121 contemporary characters and a theme of fundamentalism on the march. The work is modeled after Christ's Entry Into Brussels 1899, a mural by James Ensor. (via cioran63)

WWJD? Why, kill the fag and lie to God about it, or pay hush money to an ex-lover. Either one, i guess.

amberglow — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 07:17:24 -0800

What Jesus Would Do? "...And I'm gonna be blunt and plain; if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died." Jimmy Swaggart (no stranger to scandal and improper behavior in the past) is at it again, this time regarding marriage and gays. Maybe he should stay away from Paul Crouch, Trinity Broadcasting Network's head, currently embroiled in a gay sex scandal. Was Jesus this hypocritical and violent?