What are the Degrees of Fundamentalism?

Reading the thread on Fred Phelps got me thinking about something. As offensive as the Phelps family is, their basic argument seems not that different from the "America is going to hell in a handbasket because of our sin" argument that I have heard from the mouths of fundamentalists elsewhere including this board.Prominent fundamentalist Christians blamed Katrina among other natural catastrophies on the sinful nature of the areas affected or the country in general. We are constantly being told of the impending "DOOM" should we have the gall to leave homosexual people alone to have their own families. Even fundamentalist Moslems point at the "troubles" of the west blaming it on our decadence and Godlessness.Is the only difference between saying these things and protesting with your homemade "GOD HATES FAGS" sign a mere issue of motivation? Is the Phelps family just more willing to get off their ass?Alternativly, is there something we can identify that is different in the doctrine to condemn America based on our sinfullness used by the Phelps, "mainstream" Christian fundamentalism, and Islam?Also on topic are any other religious doctrine that fits the same profile as the decadence = God's wrath described above. In particular, any doctrine that is similar between groups of fundamentalists that has the effect of driving one group to different, potentially extreme, action even though the sentiment seems to be the same.Specifics that are off topic for this thread should be:1. The Phelps' status as Christians. I am looking specifically for what distinguishes them from other fundamentalists who hold similar positions yet don't take the same action that the Phelps family does. I don't care that the Phelps are not Christians because of some other X, Y, Z thing that they do.2. The doctrinal motivation for why fundamentalist Islam may hold these views is on topic but any other discussion or condemnation of Islam will be off topic. This will not be another boogie-man-Moslem thread.Faith and Belief please.Edited by Jazzns, : forgot to specify homemade 'sign'.

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

I wouldn't really even call the difference between Fallwell and the Phelps a degree. I would consider them exactly the same. The only difference between Fallwell and Phelps is that Fallwell gets more airtime and is involved more politically then Phelps.Put that quote on a sign in Fallwell's hands and he is exactly the same as Phelps. The difference is the medium not the message. Same goes for Pat Robertson.Now contrast those to your more "run of the mill" fundamentalists who like to say Katrina was God's punishment for New Orleans' sin but don't take the same action that a Phelps or a Fallwell would do. Is it just because they don't have their own TV show or horde of likeminded followers with signs?

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

Evangelism seems like a good canidate for a doctrine difference that would distinguish the different degrees of fundamentalism in this particular case.How is the Phelps' style of evangelism specifically disallowed by the doctrine of other fundamentalists that hold the same opinion as the Phelps'?

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

Hi all,The topic is doctrine and the difference between doctrine that results in different actions for different fundamentalists stemming from the same core beliefs.Without trying to pick on you Faith, you have said in the past that you agree with fundamentalist Moslems who say that the west is in trouble because of its immoral decadence and sinfullness.The question then becomes, do you agree with the Phelps? Why or why not?If so do you agree with the Phelps' (or Fallwell's or Robertson's) method of condemning America based on that belief? Why or why not?If so then what doctrine do you hold differently then them that distinguishes your band of fundamentalist from theirs.If buzsaw is watching I would love to here him chime in too. He takes things one step further to say that the state of things are a sign of the end times.

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

I started the thread with sort of an assumption that nobody would really want to align with the Phelps for reason that I just sort of assumed were obvious. Now I am not so sure.Are they then all just of the same cloth with different shades? Does it all just boil down to personal preference as to how to act on the belief that America is going down the toilet?

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

If they agree with the position though then what is there to be ashamed about the tactics? Is it just that they don't agree with the efficacy of protesting?What good is having a particular conviction about something if the only thing it causes you to do is to complain about it on the internet and/or vote conservative once every couple of years.It seems pretty clear that many fundamentalists are gung-ho pro-America as they are about other topics like homosexualty/evolution/etc. I would think/hope that they would have a problem with yelling at war widows on the day of the husbands funerals.I just want to know why us non-fundamentalists should consider their position of the decline of civilization due to sin any differently then the Phelps'. Maybe we shouldn'tEdited by Jazzns, : No reason given.

---

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)