MarkT

Fundamentalism is a RECENT human invention

American Fundamentalists: Their Identification, Traits, and Proper Mockery

Ten Verses Never Preached On

BRead Of Life

Death Certificate - "Taken By The Lord"

Top 10 Political Activities of Fundamentalists

V. Sexual Roots of the Fundamentalist Psyche "The Psychology of Christian Fundamentalism" by By WALTER A. DAVIS

IV. Apocalypticism-The Heart of the Ulcer "The Psychology of Christian Fundamentalism" by By WALTER A. DAVIS

1. LITERALISM "The Psychology of Christian Fundamentalism" by By WALTER A. DAVIS

Appealing Apostate: Prodigal Son Frank Schaeffer Roasts Religious Right

A Psychological Analysis of Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism is a religious movement, a theological & philosophical stand, a political and social force. I regard it most basically as a particular variety of psychological development. Fundamentalists of all religious and political varieties share the same character traits. It is the psychological character of the fundamentalist that is at the root of the ideological interpretation termed "fundamentalism," not an intellectual or spiritual concept.

"Fundamentalist" is a term sometimes used to refer to anyone who is intolerant of other's beliefs. Fundamentalism is "not so much an ideology as it is an attitude, an attitude of intolerance, incivility and narrowness," says Walter Shurden, professor of Christianity and director of the Center for Baptist Studies at Mercer University. "It is an attitude that says, 'We
have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and we are going to impose it on you and control the system so that you will have to knuckle under to it.'" As anyone who has ever attended a meeting of two or more activists can attest, that attitude can be found at all points on the political and religious spectrum.

There are, however, specific traits to what can be called "right wing" fundamentalism (of any religion) that what is sometimes called "left wing fundamentalism" lacks: authoritarianism, sexual guilt, and attitudes toward women and homosexuals.

Psychological traits of fundamentalism:

a.. A strictly hierarchical and authoritarian worldview. Everything has to have a First, a Somebody in Charge. In any partnership, one partner has to have the deciding vote. Groups and societies work best with rigidly defined roles and stratifications. (There are people who believe this way who are not fundamentalists: at least, not religious fundamentalists.)

b.. Ethical development at the "reward and punishment" stage: morality must be defined and enforced by an external authority.

c.. A lot of guilt and fear about sex.

d.. Basic distrust of human beings; certainty that "uncontrolled," human beings will be bad and vicious, particularly in sexual ways.

e.. Low tolerance for ambiguity. Everything must be clear cut, black and white. Nothing can be "possibly true but unproven at this time, we're still studying it." Fundamentalists regard science as flawed precisely because science changes. (A striking characteristic of fundamentalists is that their response to any setback which may instill doubt is to step up evangelizing for converts.)

f.. Literalism, usually including a limited sense of humor.

g.. Distrust of their own judgment, or any other human being's judgment.

h.. Fear of the future. The driving motivation of fundamentalism appears to outsiders to be fear that oneself or the group one identifies with is losing power and prerequisites and is in danger from others who are gaining power. This is not how fundamentalists put it.

i.. A low self-esteem that finds satisfaction in being one of the Elect, superior to all others. It seems to be particularly rewarding to know that rich people have a real hard time getting into Heaven.

The life experience of fundamentalist that seems to encourage these traits include:

a.. Conditional love: parents, or other authority figures, withheld love to control behavior.

b.. Other factors -- sometimes mental, emotional, or even physical abuse -- that minimized self-esteem.

c.. For those who grew up fundamentalist, the church was the central activity of family life, all else was subsidiary to the church, and social interaction with "non-believers" was discouraged, except when evangelizing.

d.. Those who have converted to fundamentalism often grew up without any firm philosophical framework, or experienced some trauma that destroyed their former framework. They were at a time in their lives when they needed absolute Answers.

Fundamentalist groups reinforce these traits:

a.. They insist on a rigid hierarchy of authority. The more extreme the group, the more authority is concentrated in one central figure.

b.. The group, and the authority figure(s) within the group, withhold or bestow love to control behavior. Misbehaving members are cut off from communication.

c.. They magnify current social and individual evils and dwell on the "innate wickedness of man."

d.. Sexual "immorality" is often their central cause.

e.. They promote a Truth which is superior to all other truths because it is absolute and unchanging.

f.. They promote distrust of one's personal judgment, being subject instead to the given truths of the group, the judgment of the church as a body, or the proclamations of a central authority figure.

g.. They are apocalyptic, foretelling an immanent and horrifying future which only the faithful will survive. Any disaster in the news is magnified as "a sign of the apocalypse.

The Alternative to Fundamentalism

Regardless of belief system, an individual is no longer a "fundamentalist" when one develops:

a.. An unconditional self-esteem and (usually in consequence) an unconditional love of others.

b.. A tolerance -- even enjoyment -- of ambiguity and diverse beliefs. One can cheerfully live with the fact that one's neighbor on one side believes that his little blue pickup truck is God and one's neighbor on the other side doesn't believe in God at all, and feel no compulsion to convert either of them. One is not frightened to question one's faith or explore alternatives.

c.. Free social and intellectual interaction with others, beyond -- or even without -- evangelism.

d.. A trust that one can "figure things out," along with a willingness to learn from others and to change one's mind.

e.. A faith that whatever the fluctuations in life and society, things can and will get better. A feeling of personal responsibility and resolve to make it so.

f.. A sense of humor.

It is not necessary to abandon all personal faith and beliefs in order to be tolerant of others. The majority of the followers in any of the world's religions are able to hold a strong personal belief and not feel threatened that others hold different beliefs.

How does anyone ever become an ex-fundamentalist? Any or all of these factors seem effective:

a.. Relationships with "non-believers" who become emotionally valued.

b.. Intellectual process: a build-up of contradictions between taught morality and the behavior of church authorities and members; unresolved questions in study of the Bible; what is taught about the world vs observation.

c.. Receiving unconditional love and acceptance from a non-fundamentalist.

d.. A strengthened self-esteem, with the loss of the need for others to be Wrong.

e.. A spiritual epiphany, with a new faith that one's relationship with God is not conditional on "perfect" faith or behavior, that it can grow and change.

© Anitra L. Freeman / Updated December 13, 2002

from http://anitra.net/activism/fundamentalism/psychology.html

Fundamentalists Anonymous: Twelve Steps to Sanity

JACK T CHICK TRACTS

See real Chick tracts at http://www.chick.com/default.asp

HOWEVER ....................

I prefer the Jack T Chicky Parodies at http://www.weirdcrap.com/chick/intro.html
Classics include "The Good, The Bad, and the Fundy"

Also visit:

1.

"Big Phony!" A spoof of a tract by two men who appear to love to hate evolution
http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/showquestion.asp?faq=4&fldAuto=46&page=2


2.
Enter The Jabberwock
http://www.enterthejabberwock.com/?cat=12

featuring ....

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Chick Dissection | In The Beginning

... Oh, great. Dinosaurs. And man. Coexisting. Again.

This is gonna be a blast! ....

....

"Your teacher's been brainwashed. By facts and observable evidence. That God, for whatever reason, lets him see instead of the apparent 'truth', which is something that can only be speculated about through blind faith, and that we can only really find out about when we die. Because nothing that we can observe in the world around us is trustworthy, and is potentially all just an illusion. Except the Bible. That's real. Because it says it is. There's no way it could possibly be a trick of Satan or anything. Because it says it's not. Really. But everything else in the whole world is potentially an illusion."

Scott Huse, huh? Yeah, I'll bet he's respected for his objectivity amongst the scientific community. Hey, a bunch of easily-led people agree that what he says sounds like it could make sense, so that makes him right, right? 'Cause that's what science is, right? Just a bunch of people making up stories and agreeing with each other without testing any evidence or doing comparative research?

....

I hate when people call science a "religion". It's not like there are a bunch of guys in robes praising idols of Einstein and Newton and such with necklaces made of strung-together test tubes. It's like saying that books are the "religion" of people who write, or that dishes are the "religion" of bus boys, or the internet is the "religion" of people who work for, say, Google. Like anyone who has the occupation of experimenting to observe evidence and better understand the world is only blindly worshipping like some kind of cult. ....

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3.

Jack T. Chick Museum of Fine Art
http://members.aol.com/monsterwax/chick.html

An insight into the Fundamentalist mind

Why Did The Fundy Cross The Road?

PASTOR DALE K WHANGKE - An awesome Blog!

Visit My Christian Blog http://mypage.cooeey.com/mypage.asp?user=DaleKWhangke

Lots of pics

Lots of edifying sermons

This is an Aussie biblical true Christian anointed blog.

Have a look at my awesome ministry and my awesome church and my awesome biblical resources.  Totally awesome!

My church is also listed on the Stock Exchange.  Buy some shares!

Be blessed!
Pastor Dale K. Whangke

http://mypage.cooeey.com/mypage.asp?user=DaleKWhangke

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Life has been a diverse journey that has brought me here.

After leaving school in Cessnock, NSW at age 15 and some early work at McDonalds, the urge to travel came upon me. I went to Europe for a year traveling in a VW, exploring the Bible Belt in the USA.

On returning home I was employed for 10 years in the sewerage maintenance industry. I was married in 1981 to Glenda A. and in the next few years became the proud father of two beautiful twins - Dwayne O. and Dave D. During this time I began studying the bible through correspondence with the Tennessee Pentacostal True Bible College and received an Associate Certificate in Biblical Ministry.

During this time I have been confronted with all manner of need and began to seek ways to assist people on life's journey. I did studies in exorcism ministry and saw some wonderful results but not to the extent that I longed for. Then I felt the call to Christian ministry so my wife and family packed our possessions and moved to Maitland NSW. I am still ministering in Wyrst Pentacostal Church which I planted in 1992. In these past 10 years I have continued my ministry studies and now hold a PhD in Creation Science Studies.

All these studies have convinced me that people can make real and lasting change in their lives. We do not have to be governed by old thoughts and feelings.

I wish you well as you journey on to your destiny.

Be blessed!

Pastor Dale K. Whangke

http://mypage.cooeey.com/mypage.asp?user=DaleKWhangke

Bill Hicks

The late comedian Bill Hicks used to say

'If you don't like what I say about God, then forgive me...'

Fundamentalists say:

'If we don't like what you say about God, then we'll burn you at the stake.'

As rare as a Fundamentalist who loves his enemy.

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... quoting from James Barr's book "Fundamentalism" on the three
distinguishing features of the Fundamentalist '... an assurance that those
who do not share their religious viewpoint are not really true Christians at
all.' - Peter Cameron "Heretic" (Doubleday; Sydney: 1994) p. 178
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Fundamentalist Christian Homeschooling

My main views on homeschooling are summarised in this post.  I have helped many homeschoolers as a professional educator including loaning out school materials for their use and testing children.  I am totally opposed to poor education and the majority of homeschooling by fundamentalist Christians is poor education for the reasons given below.

As a professional teacher for 30 years (K-12 & adult) I had to fix up the kids who were homeschooled but their homeschooling had failed.  I am not the only professional teacher who has had to do the same thing!  Homeschooling works best when there are guidelines to follow that are set by professional educators and where the process is reviewed on a regular basis by professional educators. NSW, Australia has such a policy:
http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/  &
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ 

Note that ASSESSMENT & INSPECTIONS are MANDATORY!!!!!

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from http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/aussieed/homeschooling.htm

NSW BOARD OF STUDIES
All applicants seeking registration for Home Education must satisfy the Minimum Curriculum Requirements.

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Many states in the USA have NO standard for homeschooling whatsoever. THEREIN IS THE PROBLEM!  If pseudo-science creationism can be taught as science in such homeschools then phrenology, blood letting, astrology, tarot card reading, etc etc etc can ALSO be taught as science.


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HOMESKOOL MORONS USING THE CRAP BELOW TO INDOCRINATE THEIR CHILDREN IS A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE.

- Bob Jones University Press
- Pensacola Christian College (A Beka Books)
- Robinson Self-Teaching Home School Curriculum

Some of the very worst material to place anywhere near a child!

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1. BOB JONES UNIVERSITY PRESS
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BJU Accreditation Through TRACS

Bob Jones University is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [PO Box 328, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: 434.525.9539; email: i...@tracs.org] having been awarded Candidate status as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on April 6, 2005; this status is effective for a period of five years.

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This actually doesn't mean much.  Bob Jones Uni is a fundamentalist creationist ratbag factory.  I quote from their associated site .... http://www.itib.org/

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Testimony To An Infallable Bible

The church today is contending against an enemy-one cloaked in the guise of truth and relevance. Ecumenical alliances sound the siren song of unity, which in itself is desirable and biblical but frequently sacrifices biblical fidelity to reach that end. The emotionalism so prevalent in modern churches produces much heat but all too often neglects the light of God's Word. The secular world, with its seductive refrain of "tolerance" presents itself as compatible with biblical Christianity. The resurgence of Neo-Paganism and New Age ideologies promises greater peace and power, yet only echoes the age-old hollow promises Satan made to Eve. Now, more than ever, it is time to proclaim the profound differences between the counterfeits and the eternal truth of God's Word. This is what the International Testimony to an Infallible Bible (or "ITIB") is all about.

The ITIB started a number of years ago when several men were having dinner together while attending Bible Conference at Bob Jones University. In the course of the conversation, someone mentioned how timely it would be to have a congress which Fundamentalists from around the world could attend to receive inspiration, instruction, encouragement, and fellowship. A committee was formed, and in June of 1976 the World Congress of Fundamentalists was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was intended to be a one-time affair;
however, those who attended were so encouraged and blessed they requested that another such meeting be held.

Since that date over sixteen congresses (whether global or regional in scope) have been sponsored by the ITIB. The global or World Congresses are held about every ten years, while regional congresses are held every year or two in different locations around the globe.

The ITIB is co-chaired by Dr. Ian Paisley (member of the European Parliament; Pastor of Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland) and Dr. Bob Jones III (President of Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina, USA). The ITIB Committee is comprised of both ministers and laymen who meet occasionally to help guide the direction of the ITIB. Encouraging fidelity to the Bible is their overriding concern for
the ITIB.

It is amazing how far error, posing as truth, has advanced, taking control of so many churches and Christian institutions throughout the world. It is our prayer that the truth of biblical separation from all error, when understood and practiced by the pastors around the world, will reveal the dark and dangerous situation in which the church finds itself today.

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What ratbaggery!!!!!!  There are many such "universities" in the USA and their "degrees" have no worth in Australia whatsoever!

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2. A BEKA BOOKS

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http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i29/29a04001.htm
From the issue dated March 24, 2006

A College That's Strictly Different

Secretive Pensacola Christian controls student life with tough regulations and unwritten rules

By THOMAS BARTLETT Pensacola, Fla.

...

Pensacola Christian College prides itself on being different, not just from secular colleges, but from fellow Christian ones, too.

.....

Lisa Morris was walking to class with her boyfriend last October when something happened. At first Ms. Morris, a sophomore music major, is reluctant to divulge the details. Eventually, however, the truth comes out: He patted her behind.

Someone who witnessed the incident reported Ms. Morris and her boyfriend. At Pensacola any physical contact between members of the opposite sex is forbidden. (Members of the same sex may touch, although the college condemns homosexuality.) The forbidden contact includes shaking hands and definitely includes patting behinds. Both students were expelled.
....
Even couples who are not talking or touching can be reprimanded. Sabrina Poirier, a student at Pensacola who withdrew in 1997, was disciplined for what is known on the campus as "optical intercourse" - staring too intently into the eyes of a member of the opposite sex. This is also referred to as "making eye babies." While the rule does not appear in written form, most students interviewed for this article were familiar with the concept.

.....

There are plenty of other ways to run afoul of the rules. Last spring Timothy Dow was caught playing the video game Halo 2. Such games are banned by the college. Movies are also forbidden, including those rated G. Music is restricted to classical or approved Christian ("contemporary Christian" artists are deemed too worldly). Students are allowed to watch television news at 6 o'clock, but that's it. The TVs are controlled by college employees, who flip a switch to black out the commercials, lest students see anything inappropriate.

In the library, books and magazines are censored. One student says she saw a pair of black-marker boxer shorts on a photograph of Michelangelo's David. Any books that students wish to read that are not in the library must first be approved by administrators. Those containing references to "magic," for instance, are normally rejected. The rule book specifically prohibits
"fleshly magazines and books."

......

Along with the college, Mr. Horton founded A Beka Books, acknowledged as the largest Christian-textbook company in the world. A Beka sells textbooks to more than 10,000 Christian schools across the country, offering a complete curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade. It has also won a big share of the lucrative home-school market.

The company brings in about $70-million in annual revenue and is valued at $280-million, according to Dun & Bradstreet. A sizable chunk of that revenue goes to support the college, which does not come close to breaking even on its own. According to its 2003 tax filing, the university collected $20-million in tuition and fees and $3-million from contributions. The
filing attributes $15-million in income to "royalties," presumably from A Beka.

In the mid-90s, A Beka paid nearly $50-million in back taxes after the Internal Revenue Service ruled that it should have been classified as a for-profit entity. The college itself remains nonprofit.

Revenue from A Beka helps keep costs extremely low. Students pay $6,000 a year for tuition, room, and board. That's about a third or a quarter of what most other Christian colleges cost. When asked what other colleges they considered, Pensacola students often mention Bob Jones, Cedarville University, Northland Baptist Bible College, and Abilene Christian University. Cost is usually cited as the deciding factor.

Just as the textbook company helps support the college, the college helps support the textbook company. Many of Pensacola's students work for A Beka, operating binding equipment, packing books into boxes, loading those boxes onto forklifts. Some students complain about the working conditions; others say it's a good deal. For women, A Beka is usually the only employment option because they are not allowed to hold off-campus jobs. Or leave the campus alone, for that matter.

In the world of Christian colleges, Pensacola is an oddity. It is not a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. It has little to do with other institutions. Several administrators at other Christian colleges declined to discuss Pensacola on the record for fear of seeming critical. One said he did not know enough to speak knowledgeably because
Pensacola keeps mostly to itself.

While not wanting to criticize Pensacola, Carl A. Ruby, vice president for student life at Cedarville, in Ohio, emphasizes that his university doesn't take the "bad-kid approach" to discipline. "On major issues of Christian doctrine, we are probably always on the same page," he writes in an e-mail message. "In terms of living out our faith on a daily basis, significant
differences emerge."

....

Creationism is taught in science courses.

....

Several previously unaccredited Christian colleges, like Bob Jones, have recently become candidates for accreditation. Pensacola, however, has shown no interest in outside approval of any kind. Nor does it advertise its unaccredited status. A search of the Web site turns up no mention of accreditation. It is not mentioned in the college's viewbook either, which
dedicates four pages to sports activities and two to campus facilities.

....

Lack of accreditation has been a problem for Amy Brown, too. She graduated from Pensacola in 2003 with a degree in early-childhood education. But because the college is not accredited, she cannot teach in public schools, she says. She had no idea what accreditation was before enrolling at Pensacola. "I never tried to transfer," she writes in an e-mail message,
"because I had friends that did and ended up with all of their credits as electives," meaning that they had to retake required courses.

Mr. Ghobrial, the student from Egypt who doesn't mind the rules, wants to attend dental school. His first choice, West Virginia University, has already said it would not consider his application, because Pensacola is not accredited. "I'm hoping they change their minds," he says.

Many Christian colleges do accept Pensacola's credits, as do some secular institutions. Several former students say they have had no difficulty transferring credits or applying for jobs. But others have. And as more states crack down on degrees from unaccredited colleges, it may get even tougher for Pensacola graduates.

....

http://chronicle.com
Section: Students
Volume 52, Issue 29, Page A40

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> ROBINSON SELF-TEACHING HOME SCHOOL CURRICULUM

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- TOTALLY dependent upon good literacy skills to begin with.
- Lock-step without any deviation from the program.
- 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica used - outdated and too complicated for younger readers
- 1913 Webster's Dictionary used - outdated and too complicated for younger readers
- Science texts instead of hands on experimentation and disvcovery learning.
- Original King James Version of the Bible - outdated and language too complicated for any child of any age
-Phonics only without the addition of  whole language approach, etc.
- Claims to be "self-teaching" but pupils require interaction with at least one other person - a teacher.

This "box:" is the lazy person's way of homeschooling and not worth the money you will outlay for it.

Visit the utter shite at http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/view/rc/s31p45.htm

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Fundamentalism & homeschooling - "Little Ones To Him Belong" from

"THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EXTREMISM - The Christian Right in America"
Edited by Kimberly Blaker New Boston Books, Inc. Michigan 2003
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LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONG

by Bobbie Kirkhart p. 48 ff

Our goal is not to make the schools better. . . . the goal is to hamper them, so they cannot grow. . . . Our goal as God-fearing, uncompromised . .. Christians is to shut down the public schools . . . step by step, school by school, district by district.132

Robert Thoburne in The Children Trap

.....

fundamentalist responses are largely divided into attempts to control their own children's education, and attempts to control all children's education.

....

Still, the typical home schooling parent is white, Protestant, with above-average income and education. When only one reason for home schooling is elicited, the most common reason for the decision is the importance home schooling parents put in religious education. One might expect virtually all home schooling parents include in their reasoning they believe they can
provide a better education. Interestingly, in a 1999 survey, although this was the most popular reason cited, it was included by slightly fewer than half of the parents. This is in spite of more than one answer being allowed.  Religion was a close second at thirty-eight percent, and undoubtedly overlapped the fifteen percent who chose character building and the twelve
percent who objected to what the school teaches.185

While home schooling parents' education is usually above the average,186 in only ten states are parents required to have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma to home school. It has been found that almost nineteen percent of home schooling parents did not finish high school.187

There is no question home schooled children may do well academically. Homeschooling proponents point to the large percentage of spelling bee and geography champions who have been home schooled. Unfettered by curriculum mandates, those parents whose ambition for their children lies in these subjects have a huge advantage in home schooling. It is more difficult to make sense of the "average," however. Proponents point to relatively high
percentiles on SAT and ACT scores, and on various "norming" tests. Indeed, they are impressive, but they reflect a selfselected minority of home-schooled students.
....
Among educators and child development specialists, the biggest concern with home schooling is the lack of social experience, both inside and outside the classroom. Many home schoolers form collectives for providing enrichment activities, such as field trips, and enter their children in such things as group dance class or group sports. But the interaction provided is structured and controlled, lacking the diversity the child will face in the workforce and without even the limited freedom of speech and association present in the high school hallway.

Many home schooling parents see this as an advantage. But if it is an advantage, it is not one an adult can maintain and still enjoy the full mobility, cultural opportunity, and freedom our society has to offer.

Educators point out peer interaction is a valuable and necessary component of a good academic lesson plan. Class discussion, oral reports, and cooperative learning assignments such as small group projects are important segments of the modern classroom day. Most teachers consider them vital to a total educational experience. Some of the reasons this is true may in fact be among fundamentalists' objections to public education. Peer interaction
increases creativity and critical thinking skills. It is a teacher's job to tell the students what is required, so students may meet the expectations. But when one is trying to please fellow students, there is no clear line, no "this is the answer they want" to seek. In class discussion, students have some social protection if they want to question the authority of the teacher's statement or the instructional materials. This is a practice good teachers encourage, as it forces the student to look critically at the issues and take ownership of his or her own ideas.
....
Typical fundamentalist home schooling parents have taken their children out of school as much to protect them from learning which they consider harmful, as to instill religious values. This greatly decreases what the parent needs to know. Certainly, in the field of biology, the debate is well known. Without evolution, any real understanding of DNA is not important. Teaching it in depth might lead the child to conclude the evolutionists are right.

The typical public high school literature class includes work encouraging students to think beyond the cliché, and to question traditional values. This is not as much to get students to change their values, but so that they will know why they hold them. To the fundamentalist, all values are prescribed in the Bible, as explained by some earthly authority.

Questioning them is sacrilege. Neither William Shakespeare nor Toni Morrison fit in this scheme. Literature can go as far as oversimplified  interpretations of Milton and Blake.189 ncient history must be shaped to conform to Biblical accounts, and merican history is distorted into an account of a struggle to establish and maintain a Christian religion. Any serious study of ancient India or of America's Founding Fathers calls these standards into question. Indeed, many fundamentalists claim the Founding Fathers were Christian, in spite of a clear record that the majority of the most prominent were not.

Other social sciences have to include the concepts homosexuality is a sin, anti-social behavior is inspired by Satan, and people who have not heard the word of Jesus are culturally deficient. This, then, excludes much of the traditional teaching of the courses that might call the entire belief system  into question. Therefore, fundamentalist children are left with very primitive concepts of biology and physics, with-if the parent can teach it-some chemistry, though much organic chemistry is suspect.

Mathematics does present a real problem. Though its applications are often considered sinful, it is not philosophically excluded from the fundamentalist curriculum. New math, where children are taught to use critical thinking skills, rather than just the mechanics, is typically
avoided.

However, at the higher levels, the math is beyond most parents' abilities. Health class, of course, excludes any in-depth study of the human reproductive system and certainly of birth control. It may also well omit common psychological issues, such as depression.

Finally, Bible study is important to the fundamentalist curriculum, but study here may be a misnomer. The fundamentalists' assertion they take the Bible literally, without need for interpretation, belies the internal contradictions within the collection. So, even Bible study, in addition to lacking any critical analysis, is inadequate in significant detail.

Fundamentalists teach the story of Jesus' resurrection as history. Yet, they cannot teach the contradictory events and time lines of the various versions without adding explanations that defy both logic and Biblical scholarship.

It is no surprise fundamentalists are less likely than the general population to obtain a college education. Sociologists Alfred Darnell and Darren Sherkat reveal fundamentalists were found to "have significantly lower educational attainment in 1973 and 1982" than others. They are also less likely to take college preparatory classes and have lower educational
aspirations.190

Fundamentalists are also often opposed to colleges, because they see Christians lose their faith with higher education. By not obtaining a higher education, fundamentalists never learn to think critically about religion, politics, and social issues. This leads to mental stagnation in many areas, and therefore, such problems cannot be resolved.191

The Bible as the Golden Calf of Fundamentalism

> The "Book" has become a Golden Calf of its own making.. thanks to fundamentalists.

Aw, but the widdle Fundies like their widdle Golden Calf idol.  It looks so pretty ... and it comes in a Trew Kristyun version that you can supersize with added fries (in Hell).

We luv you Bible
Oh yes we doooooooooooooooooooooooo
We luv you Bible
And we'll be Troooooooooooooooooooooo  Kristyuns!

"FUNDAMENTALISTS - The arseholes in the Body of Christ"

The methane gas from Fundamentalist bullshit has probably caused the hole in the ozone layer all by itself.

"Sheep shit on shepherd's shoes, by any other name, still stinks." (paraphrasing Bono)

WILL for those about to be raptured

Trew Kristyun spellun left intact. ;-) ........

from http://www.nonraptured.com/will.htm

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Inherting from the Raptured

If we put our minds to it, most of us know someone who is fairly certain they'll be raptured. They may not be considering this, but why not leave all their earthly belongings to you -- their nonraptured friend -- rather than letting them fall through to a worldwide government run by The Beast and Satan's minions? You do not even need to be that close if much of this
person's family will be raptured with them.

Contact your saintly friends now. Offer to let them use the convenient form below to keep their fiscal assets from slipping into the hands of Satan's One World Government agents.

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                 LAST WILL OF _________________ [name of testator]



I, _________________ [name of testator], a resident of _________________,

[State], being of sound and disposing mind and memory, fully accepting

the Lord Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, and  not being actuated by

any duress, menace, fraud, mistake, or undue influence Satanic or

otherwise, do make, publish, and declare this to be my last Will, ereby

expressly revoking all Wills and Codicils previously made by me.



I. EXECUTOR:  I appoint _________________ as Executor of this my Last

Will and Testament and provide if this Executor is unable or unwilling

to serve (or quite unexpectedly raptured) then I appoint _____________

as alternate heathen Executor.  My Executor shall be authorized to carry

out all provisions of this Will and pay my just debts, obligations and

funeral expenses. I further provide my Executor shall not be required to

post surety bond in this or any other jurisdiction, and direct that no

expert appraisal be made of my estate unless required The Beast.







II. GUARDIAN: In the event I shall be taken to Jesus as the sole parent

of minor children too sinful to be raptured, then I appoint ____________

Guardian of said minor children. If this named Guardian is unable or

unwilling to serve, then I appoint _________________ alternate.



III.  MARITAL STATUS:  I declare that I am married to _________________

[name of spouse ] and that all references in this Will to my

_________________ [Husband or wife] are references to _________________

[him or her].



IV.  SIMULTANEOUS RAPTURE OF SPOUSE:  In the event that my ____________

[wife or husband] shall be raptured with me or there is no direct

evidence to establish that my _________________ [wife or husband] and I

are just hidinng pretending to have been taken with saints, I direct that

I shall be deemed to have predeceased/preascended my _________________

[wife or husband], notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,

and that the provisions of my Will shall be construed on such presumption.



V.  SIMULTANEOUS DEATH OF BENEFICIARY:  If any beneficiary of this Will,

including any beneficiary of any trust established by this Will, other

than my _________________ [wife or husband], shall die or, against the

indications of their current lives, actually be raptured with we saints,

within 60 days of my rapture or prior to the distribution of my estate,

I hereby declare that I shall be deemed to have survived such person.



VI. BEQUESTS:













IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, _________________ [name of testator ], hereby set

my hand to this last Will, on each page of which I have placed my

initials, on this _________________ day of _________________, at

_________________, [State].



_________________ [signature ]

_________________ [typed name of testator ]



The foregoing instrument [, consisting of _________________ pages,

including this page,] was signed in our presence by _________________

[name of testator ] and declared by _________________ [him or her] to

be _________________ [his or her] last Will. We, at the request and in

the presence of _________________ [him or her] and in the presence of

each other, do hereby state that we are infidels and/or iniquitous to

an extent to which we may be assured of being nonraptured, and have

subscribed our names below as witnesses on this _________________ day

of _________________.



_________________ [Signature of Infidel Witness #1]

_________________ [Typed name of Infidel Witness #1]

_________________ [Address of WInfidel itness #1]





_________________ [Signature of Infidel Witness #2]

_________________ [Typed name of Infidel Witness #2]

_________________ [Address of Infidel Witness #2]





_________________ [Signature of Infidel Witness #3]

_________________ [Typed name of Infidel Witness #3]

_________________ [Address of Infidel Witness #3]