While on his return from Africa, Pope Francis said that fundamentalism is “a disease of all religions.” Though he included the Roman Catholic Church, he was primarily though not exclusively referring to the violence of radical Islam. “Fundamentalism is always a tragedy. It is not religious, it lacks God, it is idolatrous,” he said. He called on Christians and Muslims to end “sectarian conflict” in the Central African Republic. “Together, we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself,” he said.
But Francis said Islam was not the only religion to suffer from violent extremists. “We Catholics, we have a few, even many fundamentalists. They believe they know absolute truth and corrupt others,” he said, adding: “I can say this because this is my Church.”
This is not the first time that Pope Francis has condemned fundamentalism. During his speech to the U.S. Congress in September, he said. “We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every form of fundamentalism, whether religious or of every other kind.”
What is fundamentalism? The dictionary defines fundamentalism as a movement in Protestantism in the early part of the 20th century that stresses the infallibility of the Bible in matters of faith, morals and also as a literal historical record. Of course, there are broader definitions that include a strict adherence to any set of beliefs or ideas. In other words, the pope is saying that fundamentalism must be avoided. That would include Protestant, Islamic, Hindu, Nazi, Communist, etc. And he lumps them all together and links them to extremism.
The pope would argue that Catholicism is not a fundamentalist religion, because it does not believe in the literal application of scripture, or of its sacred oracles. All Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other persecuting religions must moderate themselves to minimize differences and join in ecumenical projects to avoid the label of fundamentalism. Other Christian groups, such as Evangelicals, Baptists, Adventists, Pentecostals, etc., must also become more ecumenical. If they do not, they will eventually be considered to be fundamentalist because they adhere to scripture as the foundation of their faith. The pope, remember, is aiming for all Christians to join together at the communion table in visible, sacramental unity.
Pope Francis is essentially saying that those Christians who hold to the Bible will be considered religious fundamentalists and extremists. Of course, right now he is talking about the violence of Islamic extremism. But just like in every other field, Muslim extremists are the excuse to justify removing Biblical fundamentalism too. Ecumenical collaboration, he is saying, is the only way to prevent fundamentalism from dividing society. “We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good,” though he says we should “respect our differences and our convictions of conscience.”
Jesus said to the devil, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. These words apply to the true followers of Christ in every age, and in the last days especially.
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Comments
Rosita Kirshman
Tuesday December 22nd, 2015 at 10:43 AMClearly, Satan is using ISIS and Muslim extremism to get rid of all true protestants, Bible believers. It took us years to understand why gradually Islam was moving toward extremism. Now we understand, those poor souls are being used and sacrificed to rid the earth of God’s people. And Satan is working through the papacy, gaining control of the US government! Time is short!
Thomas A. E Ecker
Saturday July 7th, 2018 at 08:06 PMAmen, sir! But beware of Satan using the Backfire Effect!!!
Stanley N Oruta
Tuesday December 22nd, 2015 at 03:04 PMindeed this is the people need to wake up from their sleep and pray hard, because the antichrist is still at work. what happened in kenya when pope came here it’s really what shows that the prophecy of Revelation 13:,is being fulfilled very fast that way. Let’s pray for one another. We have no time to waste the is coming soon and sooner.
Margo
Tuesday December 22nd, 2015 at 10:15 PMHe’s building another tower of Babel.The one that was destroyed by God Himself.
Leonard
Tuesday December 22nd, 2015 at 10:17 PMListen to what this guy says about Fundamentalism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f0ZHaoSnf0
Patricia Casto
Wednesday December 23rd, 2015 at 02:44 AMSoon the Bible will be a hate book and removed. Jesus come soon.
Steven Owen
Wednesday December 23rd, 2015 at 10:37 AMI don’t know if I buy this…
Tina Smith
Wednesday July 20th, 2016 at 08:07 AMRead the book of John; it proves the Lord Jesus as creator. Then read Romans; it show Paul as Lord Jesus personally selected apostle. Follow Paul as he followed the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Mannix
Wednesday December 23rd, 2015 at 11:27 PMFor sure things are happening stealthily at a quick pace. Christ will be here soon. Fundamentalism is the backbone of our faith, and Satan knows that by standing on the word of God alone, we will be saved, so he want to erase the memories of God’s book from His people thru the beast. Truth is “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony”. Come Lord Jesus. Amen
admin
Thursday December 24th, 2015 at 09:08 AMIt is interesting that the papal definition of fundamentalism is different than the historical one. The pope applies it to violence and then says that all fundamentalism must be avoided because it leads to violence. But the historical definition is more bland and does not include violence. Of course, the papal definition will prevail.
Jason W
Thursday December 24th, 2015 at 12:52 AMI have to admit that it is very amusing that the Pope states that idolatry is not good and that fundamentalism lacks God and is a tragedy. I would like to point out that without idolatry the Papacy would fade away because their beliefs are based extensively on just that, idolatry. They also change the Words of GOD to suit their needs quite blatantly. I will believe the Word of GOD as it written in the Bible. The Pope wants us to come together as one, God tells us to “be separate”. NO! I will not become ecumenical in any way. Ecumenism is a plague and should be avoided without exception. It is evil!
Brother Torben
Sunday July 31st, 2016 at 03:56 AMIf you reread the Sunday document Dies Domini from 1998 the whole plan fits. On one hand the Vatican play political in the talk on fundamentalism, on the other hand the spiritual game is getting the churches to unite in Sunday keeping and that is done by pressing on worship of the Holy Spirit, all churches are now involved here, and by that going straight into spiritualism
Are we sleeping , evenadventist GC prays now and lifts up the Holy Spirit, get ready
brother Torben
Silvina C. Benegas
Sunday April 30th, 2017 at 11:49 AMUna vez pregunte al lider de la iglesia donde concurria que se expusiera con mayor detalle sobre el biblisismo o fundamentalismo biblico
me respondio con retos y ninguna argumenta
cion desde entonces comprendo que debemos
comenzar a pedir una nueva luz sobre nuestra
postura rigida en la interpretacion de las sagradas escrituras asi como los mismos israelitas cuna o raiz de la cultura cristiana acuden a la iluminacion de la mism a palabra por otros escritos no sagrados pero de bendicion digo Amen Santo Padre