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November 04, 2005
Defining Fundamentalism
Former US President Jimmy Carter speaking on NPR this morning offered this definition of fundamentalism:
A fundamentalist believes "I am uniquely related to God, and my own opinions are derived from Heaven and they must be therefore right. And anyone who disagrees with me is not only wrong, but inferior. If I modify my positions I'm violating my faith. So I don't believe in negotiation. I don't believe in mediation. I don't believe in compromise."
How succinct. How eloquent. A definition that does not inflame, or judge, but simply and completely conveys the character and meaning of the term. Wouldn't you agree?
I ask this because out of context one might assume he was speaking of foreign terrorism. And while the definition would clearly withstand such a test, he was in fact speaking domestically; offering a gentle yet poignant critique of the commingling of religion and politics in today's America.
I encourage you to listen to the interview. It's brief -- about seven and a half minutes -- and in it Mr. Carter speaks to a number of timely topics. He is eloquent, honest, and insightful. And unlike much of the rhetoric in our nation today, he is able to express himself without resorting to labeling or being dismissive.
Posted by Tacitus at November 4, 2005 11:14 AM