LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY squidflakes)

Since the link to his blog was posted earlier in the week, I've been visiting the Real Live Preacher's site and reading his posts with an urgent sort of hunger that only comes when something really clicks with me. Its obvious from the first couple of posts that this guy just *gets it*. He's Christian in the way Christians SHOULD be, as he calls it Old, Deep, Christianity. He doesn't convert, he doesn't judge, he just does his thing, and its beautiful.

While reading, I found this post, which I felt needed to be passed on to the community. A bit of the text is posted below.

Fundamentalism Hurts
January 18, 2003 - 7:14pm


Fundamentalism makes for interesting television, doesn't it? Hearing Jerry Falwell say that abortionists, pagans, and feminists (among others) caused the 9-11 disaster was nauseofascinating. Watching a man hold a sign that says, “God hates fags” is like watching film clips of the holocaust. Can such things be?

Oh, they be.

If you want to know about the Taliban, ask an Afghani woman. If you want to know about Christian fundamentalism, ask a Christian. Fundamentalists are more than interesting television for us. They are people with real power who harm our churches, destroy good ministers, and sully our name.

We've been in the cages with these cats, and they go for the jugular. They are always on the prowl, circling the campfires of the followers of Christ, howling the name of Jesus and splattering our heritage across their banners of hatred.

Watching fundamentalism do its work is like watching the crucifixion over and over and over again.

Never confuse fundamentalism with a particular set of beliefs. Fundamentalism is a methodology. It is a way of relating to people. There are fundamentalist Christians, fundamentalist Muslims, and don't forget the politically correct zealots. You will meet fundamentalists in every walk of life.