fundamentalism
In 'The Battle for God' Karen Armstrong points out that fundamentalism is essentially a reaction of fear. People place their identity in a system of belief and any challenge to that system will evoke a survival response which can be violent. Rush Dozier also covers this in his excellent book, "Why We Hate'. The amygdala, an evolutionary remnant in the brain emotes basic emotions related to survival. The amygdala works in conjunction with the more advanced cortex to create systems of meaning that validate the expression of its very base drives- to exclude, dominate, and destroy the differing other. It is oriented to very animal-like response and action. And because it places its very identity in the system of meaning, any 'attack' or undermining of the system is perceived as a threat to survival and hence the often violent response of fundamentalists to modernism or secularism, which has progressively undermined mythical systems. Fundamentalists are responding in a very animal-like manner. But yes to Armstrongs suggestion that we ought to be more understanding of the fears of fundamentalists. I feel however that we ought not overly molly coddle the fundamentalist/conservative spirit but help people to grow up and realize that in light of the emerging information we now have about reality and life, it is time to radically rethink the spiritual/God. THe Western religious approach (Eastern is not much different- from 50,000 feet all religion looks the same) with its primitive themes of exclusion, insider/outsider, male domination, Fall/salvation mythology, and apocalyptic nihilism is no longer a credible approach for explaining the universe story.
Eldanuumea said:
In 'The Battle for God' Karen Armstrong points out that fundamentalism is essentially a reaction of fear. People place their identity in a system of belief and any challenge to that system will evoke a survival response which can be violent. Rush Dozier also covers this in his excellent book, "Why We Hate'. The amygdala, an evolutionary remnant in the brain emotes basic emotions related to survival. The amygdala works in conjunction with the more advanced cortex to create systems of meaning that validate the expression of its very base drives- to exclude, dominate, and destroy the differing other. It is oriented to very animal-like response and action. And because it places its very identity in the system of meaning, any 'attack' or undermining of the system is perceived as a threat to survival and hence the often violent response of fundamentalists to modernism or secularism, which has progressively undermined mythical systems. Fundamentalists are responding in a very animal-like manner. But yes to Armstrongs suggestion that we ought to be more understanding of the fears of fundamentalists. I feel however that we ought not overly molly coddle the fundamentalist/conservative spirit but help people to grow up and realize that in light of the emerging information we now have about reality and life, it is time to radically rethink the spiritual/God. THe Western religious approach (Eastern is not much different- from 50,000 feet all religion looks the same) with its primitive themes of exclusion, insider/outsider, male domination, Fall/salvation mythology, and apocalyptic nihilism is no longer a credible approach for explaining the universe story.
