In Reply to: Objectional statements posted by hmmm on January 06, 2004 at 15:14:49:
Hi Eva,
Down the board I asked you:
It seems that by your definition, if I believe in the Bible as a historically reliable document & have faith in Jesus as the way, the truth and the life ... that that automatically categorizes me as a narrow-minded fundamentalist, someone who would see things differently if only I would read the Bible with an open heart. It seems that if I maintain my present faith that I cannot escape that label. Maybe this is not what you intended, but it's hard to escape the feeling. Can you clarify?
You answered:
Yes, looking at it I realize that in stating my strong challenges to fundamentalism in general, I certainly don't want it to be felt that I don't respect people's right to remain within the confines of mainstream Christian doctrine. So when I'm challenging 'you fundamentalists', please don't feel like its some kind of an 'attack' on the people who identify as such. It is said in the 'sport of lively debate' and not meant to be taken personally by anyone.
Eva, I accepted your explanation and I thought that was settled, yet now you say,
"I don’t have any qualms about calling closed belief systems cultish either, but I don’t adhere to one myself."
If I believe in the books of the New Testament as inspired Scripture, is that a "closed belief system" and am I therefore cultish? I'm not trying to strain at gnats here, but while you are recklessly shooting all my sacred cows I feel like I'm being shot at too. :c)