The Meaning of Words 1: Fundamental

     You see a lot of words getting thrown about in the world today and most of them with little care for their actual meaning. Often groups or individuals will take a word or phrase that sounds good or has a particular popular understanding and adopt it for their own purposes. Take the word “fundamental” for example, you've probably seen it used more as a part of “fundamentalist” or “fundamentalism” and nearly always in a negative context. That being said however...

     According to Webster: ( fun·da·men·tal ) forming or relating to the most important part of something; of central importance; serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function.

     So something that is fundamental is something that is based on, connected to, or is a part of the most basic necessary factors of a thing. Kind of strange when you see fundamental behavior being characterized as something weird, illogical, or insane. You most often see this word used in regards to religion and specifically religious people. They get labeled as “fundamentalists” and everyone knows right away that you're talking about crazy people who live on a ranch somewhere and don't let their daughters date or wear pants instead of dresses. Thanks to Webster though we can see that someone who is a fundamental believer in something is really just someone who holds to what that system actually teaches. Ultimately then, it comes down not to whether someone is fundamental or not but to what those fundamentals are that they believe whether or not you think them defensible.

     Lets make a quick comparison of Islam and Christianity. Now of course this a cursory look but the point should still be served. Anyone who reads the two texts (the Qur'an and the Bible respectively) will or at least should notice a marked difference in the way each text treats those who don't believe. Now the Bible doesn't mince words, there is only one way to heaven and those who do not choose to follow God will face Hell but it is Islam that calls for the earthly destruction of non-believers.

From the Qur'an:

“Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kill them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. (But if they desist in their unbelief, then don't kill them.)”

2:191-2

“Fight them until "religion is for Allah."

2:193

“War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not.”

2:216

And now, the New Testament of the Bible:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

(Matthew 28:19)

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:17-21)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

(Matthew 5:43-44)

     Now there are all kinds of points that can be made about context and historical text verses commanding text but again my point holds. To be a fundamental Christian is to be one who loves their enemies and wishes harm on no one, to be a fundamental Muslim is to work for the kingdom of Allah on earth either by conversion or by the sword. No where in the New Testament are we told to establish a kingdom for God or to “convert” others by any means. We are teachers, preachers, and prophets telling the people around us what God has said; they are responsible for their own souls after that. Those who murder and steal and cause harm in the name of Christ are in fact, not following the words of Scripture.

     Being fundamental is not necessarily a bad thing. Its important for example that a chemist be a fundamental chemist, otherwise they'll be ignoring some very important laws and they won't be very useful. Don't let people around you lump “fundamentalists” into one giant group of crazy people, study the beliefs and ask yourself if their being fundamental is really the right way to be. I am a fundamental Christian because I hold to what the Bible actually teaches; not what people think it says, not what people say about what it says, and certainly not because everything in there is easy or liked by whoever reads it. A belief must be judged by what it claims and not necessarily by what the “followers” actually do, it must be judged by its fundamentals.