Having entered the 21st century, we face many challenges that threaten the well-bring of humanity and the earth. One of them, which has not been fully addressed and publicly acknowledged, is the danger of religious fundamentalism.

One of the reasons for this is, perhaps, that it requires one to undertake a strenuous academic training for years, especially in theology, before one can offer pointed criticism of specific areas of religious fundamentalism.

It is an arduous task, not to mention the tremendous bravery it requires to go against religious fanatics and bigots.

As a Christian minister and theologian by training, I see it as my moral obligation to offer my critique of Christian fundamentalism.

Especially compared with other religious fundamentalists, like certain Islamic fundamentalists, most Christian fundamentalists are relatively gentle, and I do not have to risk my life to challenge them.

However, I cannot emphasise enough, one should not equate the Islamic faith, which is one of the greatest world civilisations, to terrorism or Islamic fundamentalism.

Fundamentalists are dwellers in the past

I also want to make it very clear at the outset that, unlike Christian fundamentalists, I do not believe that Christianity is the only and absolute Truth that everyone must believe in or that those who refuse to believe in Christianity will go to hell and burn for eternity.

Christian fundamentalists, like other religious fundamentalists, are dwellers in the past, even though they might appear to be modern and stylish, or well educated; they are doctrinaire followers of their religious scared texts and do not hesitate to discriminate, as long as it is taught in their religious texts.

The Bible, just like any religious text, is good and inspiring. Christian fundamentalists' belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, however, is bad. This is because it promotes the tenacity of implausible beliefs, perpetuates prejudice and justifies discrimination.

The problem of Christian fundamentalists is not only that they read the Bible literally, but also their inconsistent approach to reading the Bible. As biblical scholar James Barr points out, they flip flop between reading it literally and taking it non-literally.

For instance, I have not met any Christian who says, "if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also," or "if anyone takes your coat, give your cloak as well," or better still, "give to anyone who begs from you, do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you," or even more dramatically and terrifyingly, "if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away... if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away," even though these are all explicitly taught in the Bible by Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42, Matthew 5:29-30). No one that I know of today takes these biblical verses literally.

Fundamentalists have found ways to reinterpret

Most Christians do not believe, albeit some still do, that women should not speak in congregations, even though it is clearly stated in the Bible (1 Conrinthians 14:34). Nor do most Christians believe that women should, "if they want to inquire about something, [they should] ask their husbands at home" (1 Conrinthians 14:35). These are really bad for those who are not married, widows, or lesbians.

Most Christian fundamentalists have found a way to reinterpret these biblical verses instead of reading them literally. However, they refuse to reinterpret the biblical verses that appear to oppose homosexuality, and stubbornly believe that gay people choose to be gay willingly, even though psychological and sociological research have demonstrated otherwise.

I understand that my weekly article on homosexuality and religious fundamentalism has upset many Christian fundamentalists.

To be frank, I do not write to change their minds, or with the hope that they will alter their opinion about homosexuality. I know it is an impossible mission because religious fundamentalists will not be affected by arguments. One of my purposes is simply to elicit their response so as to prove my points.

I do believe, however, that religious fundamentalists will one day change their views on sexuality, not because of me, but because of the majority.

When it has become common knowledge that homosexuality is as good as heterosexuality, they will change; just as they changed their belief that we should not have read the Bible literally to support slavery when it became common knowledge today that slavery is evil.

I write to urge the public to change what we think about homosexuality and to speak up for queer people, lest many suffer due to the ignorance of religious fundamentalists.

 

REV O YOUNG is an ordained Christian minister at MCC New York. He holds two masters degrees, in sociology and theology. He lives in New York city and teaches sociology at St Peter's College. He has published 20 books on sociology, theology and sexuality and is also a columnist for Sin Chew Daily . He is currently finishing his doctoral degrees in sociology and theology.