Wall of separation between fundies and non-fundies

[Darth Wong]

Actually, I've read a fair bit of creationist literature on-line, and I even own a Jehovah's Witness publication on creation vs evolution; it's a small blue book full of hilariously stupid claims and bad leaps in logic.

Said "small blue book" won't happened to be called Life, how Did it Get Here, would it? Because I happen to have that book, along with a Chinese translation hiding on my bookshelf.

That's the one. It's amazing how much stupidity they could cram into such a small object.

[SirNitram]

You will find most Fundies haven't read anything they're misquoting; they're reading someone else misquoting him. A proper Christian, you see, who finds the important bits so they don't have to do any work.

The wall is strong, and it will get stronger as time goes by and they lose yet more ground. The Christian Scientists down the street are a model for the fundies to come: Completely cordoned off, you never seen the doors open or any outward signs of habitation. You never hear anyone admit they're part of them. Why?

Well, because people here beleive strongly in family and letting kids die because you're too damn stupid to take them to the doctors is bad! But they totally beleive they're a secret, persecuted organization. That's the future of this seperation. More extremism, less people.

[wolveraptor]

^That's true. Often its maybe 1 fundie's reading of a book that allows 1000 to quote a selected piece out of it (via the internet). The fundie who read it him/herself probably waited till they were well-educated (read: brainwashed) by their teachers before reading such a dangerous book with such anti-Christian ideas.

[Lagmonster]

I think Nitram makes a good point about the wall getting stronger over time.

The Amish are walking examples of the extreme end to what's going on with the separation of fundamentalists in America; sooner or later they'll have rejected so much of modern society that the only way to preserve themselves will be to isolate themselves in small pockets away from it. And I don't think that trying to out-breed normal people or yank political ground out from under secularists is going to win in the long run.

[Zornhau]

This happened to me. I used to think that Star Wars did not have shipboard shields.....SNIP....."What a dumb mistake, they mean armour not shields, SW fighters don't have shields."

The lesson of the story is that even a person capable of logical reasoning can easily be mislead by his own preconceived notions....SNIP.....

Me too! Picked up the wrong idea of how to throw a German longsword cut, then misinterpreted almost the entire tradition for a year or so. When I saw illustrations of people doing it right, I would dismiss the demonstrators as not knowing how to cut... and so on.

[drachefly]

What set you straight? Ancient illustrations?

[Metatwaddle]

You can of course socialize only with those who attend your church, shop only at Christian bookstores, do business only with Christian businesses (use the Shephard's Guide), read only Christian magazines, newspapers and websites. Watch only Christian tv.

That... that is pretty much what some members of my family do. It's frightening, the way fundamentalist parents are able to censor what reaches their daughter's mind. No real science, no free thought, no anything "immoral."

But things are finally starting to break through. Some extended family members are starting to help this daughter subvert this whole Christian fundamentalist lifestyle. I hope to start doing my part as well, because I want her to discover the real world. I guess what I'm trying to say is that yes, fundies can isolate themselves, but their children will often discover the real world with the help of anyone that's part of such.

[GuppyShark]

I remember watching a docco in Uni about the Amish and their coming-of-age ritual of "going English" for a year or so (I forget how long). What would happen is that a lot of the kids would have no experience or context of alcohol/drugs so they'd go out into the world, get fucked up, decide it's all terrifying and rush back home.

[Mange]

I am playing devils advocate here on a point.
Most of us (I guess use the term "Evolutionist"), religious or not, refuse to read creationist literature. I have thought about reading one just to see how they are written but likely would throw down the book in disgust. The problem is couldn't they use the exact same argument back?

Actually, I've read a fair bit of creationist literature on-line, and I even own a Jehovah's Witness publication on creation vs evolution; it's a small blue book full of hilariously stupid claims and bad leaps in logic.

Do you mean "Life - How Did It Get Here?" When I graduated high school, I got the Swedish edition as a graduation "present" by a JW acquaintance.

While the ending chapters are written from a JW POV (with culminates in the standard ridiculous conversion attempt), most of the chapters repeats many of the same fallacious arguments and neglecting of facts that YEC makes as well.

[Mange]

Oh, sorry, I missed Kaz's post...