25 Dec '10 02:58>
The common understanding for most people about the term fundamentalism is:
To strictly adhere to the doctrine which they subscribe to, and take all teachings literally and without compromise.
To be fundamental about something other than religious teachings......lets say flying a Boeing 380 super aircraft would be a good thing, considering that flying by the book would ensure the safest flight, because the flying manual would cover everything that could possibly go wrong, and the book would tell you exactly how to respond.
So being fundamental about something is not always negative.
In false religion being fundamental is very troublesome, because the follower has no leniency to question the errors in their doctrine,........and they just accept blindly.
Lets not use this word " fundamentalism" any more now, because most persons believe it to be a sinister word that conjures up all soughts of bad things with anything its attached to........but let me use the word "strictly" instead.
But remember that if one is following a religion with false teachings and error, then following strictly will have negative consequences........and the sinister meaning of fundamentalism may only apply to that teaching.
In the true and bona fide religion there is no error, so if a person wants to follow strictly, then it would be a positive action, and in fact it would be advantageous to their spiritual progress.
When a person follows the one true bona fide religion Vedanta Sutra strictly, then they can only obtain great benefit, and being strict as against being slack, is more desirable when applying the principles of the spiritual living and thinking.
Vedanta Sutra is very practical as well, because it instructs one to behave according to time, place and circumstances, so one never gets stuck in situations that really only need some flexibility and leniency.
In the future when someone calls myself a fundamentalist, I will take it as a compliment for meaning ( I am following strictly).... thank you.
To strictly adhere to the doctrine which they subscribe to, and take all teachings literally and without compromise.
To be fundamental about something other than religious teachings......lets say flying a Boeing 380 super aircraft would be a good thing, considering that flying by the book would ensure the safest flight, because the flying manual would cover everything that could possibly go wrong, and the book would tell you exactly how to respond.
So being fundamental about something is not always negative.
In false religion being fundamental is very troublesome, because the follower has no leniency to question the errors in their doctrine,........and they just accept blindly.
Lets not use this word " fundamentalism" any more now, because most persons believe it to be a sinister word that conjures up all soughts of bad things with anything its attached to........but let me use the word "strictly" instead.
But remember that if one is following a religion with false teachings and error, then following strictly will have negative consequences........and the sinister meaning of fundamentalism may only apply to that teaching.
In the true and bona fide religion there is no error, so if a person wants to follow strictly, then it would be a positive action, and in fact it would be advantageous to their spiritual progress.
When a person follows the one true bona fide religion Vedanta Sutra strictly, then they can only obtain great benefit, and being strict as against being slack, is more desirable when applying the principles of the spiritual living and thinking.
Vedanta Sutra is very practical as well, because it instructs one to behave according to time, place and circumstances, so one never gets stuck in situations that really only need some flexibility and leniency.
In the future when someone calls myself a fundamentalist, I will take it as a compliment for meaning ( I am following strictly).... thank you.