Part 25. Fundamentalism and Literalism.. How not to read and understand the bible.(1)

Ready to receive a dose of moral coercion? Then pop along to a church and the chances are that at some  you will be informed what a wretched, miserable sinner you are. The sermon might well be delivered with zeal so you are left in no doubt what a rotten person you are. When you have heard what a failure you are for the umpteenth time the message palls somewhat and you begin to feel there are better things to do with your time. Nothing like a negative, hectoring message to draw people in. Yes, exaggeration on my part, but with more than a grain of truth.

Poring over ancient texts to discern a message to be delivered to the  congregation is the stock-in-trade of a literalist and fundamentalist theology. Attenders at such a church are fed on a diet of old testament lists of sinful activity peppered with verses from Paul's letters. Why the congregation is fed regularly this diet is not questioned, but at least they can leave in the smug  self-satisfied knowledge they  have been saved by seeking forgiveness and accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

But what of those whose supposed 'sin' cannot be forgiven by the church? I say the church and not Jesus. The church applies its own interpretation of scripture and acts as a gatekeeper seeking to keep people on message and repel opposition. It is moral coercion. The effect can be devastating for individuals should they be excluded by the church from complete fulfilment of their faith. To be continued.....