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**FUNDAMENTALISM **

What //is// Fundamentalism?
Fundamentalism is a term used to describe strict adherence to Christian doctrines based on a literal interpretation of the Bible.

**Why? **
The first people to come to America from England were Puritans, looking for a new home. Because of this, Christians liked to think of America as a country that always was, and always //will be //, a Christian country. However, by the end of the 1800s, factors in the Bible, the most important Christian document, were challenged by modern day scientific discoveries. Scared that Christianity would soon end, some of the more extreme Christian groups broke away from the church, and formed new sects with various names, but all were //Fundamentalists //. They were focused on **raising awareness **, finding **new members **, and **gaining power ** for Christ and Fundamentalists. The actions they took are called //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamentalist Movements //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">. By the mid 1970's, there was a resurgence of fundamentalist activity due to cultural and social changes. There are still Fundamentalists movements going on today and in the 20th century.

<span style="color: #159e9e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">Fundamentalist <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 216%;">GROUPS:
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamentalists formed groups, which were further able to promote fundamentalism in schools, politics, and broadcasting. They were not always successful in all of their attempts, but the groups helped spread awareness of Fundamentalism around America.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) Christian Coalition
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> __ Ide __  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__as and Leaders:__
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">conservative political organization in the United States.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">devoted to preserving "traditional values" in American life.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">to reach their goal, they help elect public officials who agreed with their own ideals (conservative Republicans).
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1.9 million member organization.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Pat Robertson, and Ralph Reed - helped found and run the organization.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Goals:__ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> __Important Dates:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Created the Contract with the American Family which wanted:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">laws to restrict abortion and pornography, and to allow voluntary prayer at public places like courthouse lawns and public high school graduation ceremonies.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">to use government funds to help parents send their children to parochial or other private schools.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1989 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - founded by Pat Robertson
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1994 ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - with organization's help Republic party won both houses in Congress for the first time in 40 years.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1995 ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - issued a social program, the Contract with the American Family, to be adopted by Congress.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">2) Moral Majority
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Ideas and Leaders:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">national program composed of conservative Christian political action committees.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">one of the largest conservative lobby groups in the United States. [[image:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/166750126_2922119605.jpg width="228" height="280" align="right"]]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">4 million members and over 2 million donors.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Jerry Falwell - help found and establish organization.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">members from Baptist Bible Fellowship shared leadership with Falwell.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Goals:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">campaign on issues that were important to maintaining Christian moral law.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">they believed that these ideas represented the opinions of the majority of Americans.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">the name Moral Majority - based on beliefs.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Important Dates:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**1979** - Moral Majority Inc was established.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1980 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - helped elect Ronald Regan as president.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1989 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - disbanded by Jerry Falwell saying it had accomplished it's purpose.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">Fundamentalism in <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 216%;">POLITICS:
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">Fundamentalists realized that the most effective way to get people to do what they want, is if they dominated in politics. This really shows the greedy side of fundamentalists, simply because they want power. Fundamentalists worked hard to gain power, which at some points was successful, but currently, are lacking in large politically active members.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) Republican Fundamentalists

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamentalists are usually republicans.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Pat Robertson (from the Cristian Coalition) ran for the Republican nomination for President in 1988.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Coalitions efforts became clear when Clinton signed bill "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act" in 1996, in support of Fundamentalists beliefs.

===<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">2) Political Actions === <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">They were able to vote enough Republican Congress people so that republicans had a majority in both houses of Congress.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">These new Republicans proposed some bills that involved
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">restore school prayer
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">restrict abortion
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">limit pornography
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">provide tax breaks for parents who send their children to private or religious schools
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">called for a "Personal Responsibility Act" to limit benefits to welfare recipients who bore children out of wedlock
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Most measures were never put into effect.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Bills that did pass became part of Contract with America program (a list of promises that Republicans made before the 1994 elections, that they would fulfill if they won)

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 195%;">**Figures in Politics:**


 * **<span style="color: #2a0b93; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Ralph Reed **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**1982 - 1984** - executive director of College Republicans National Committee.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**1989 - 1997** - named by Robertson to head the Christian Coalition as executive director.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**1994** - persuaded many in evangelical Christian movement to vote for Republican party candidates. Coalition staff members were active in key positions in the 1996 Republican presidential. nomination campaigns of Lamar Alexander, Pat Buchanan, and Robert Dole.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**1997** - left the Coalition to head his own political consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2001** - elected chairman of the Georgia Republican party.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2005** - nominated as the party's candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2006 election.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> author of the book // __Active Faith: How Christians Are Changing the Face of American Politics__ // || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">[[image:http://www.toobeautiful.org/ralph_reed.jpg width="210" height="279" caption="Ralph Reed - crusade to take over U.S. politics - and it's working." link="http://www.toobeautiful.org/ralph_reed.jpg"]] ||

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">Fundamentalism in <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 216%;">SCHOOLS:
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamentalists tried very hard to be a major influence in public schools, because teaching children their beliefs would ensure a new generation of fundamentalism. In the early 1900s, they wanted to make sure that no new scientific discoveries that went against the bible were taught. In southern states, where fundamentalists had lots of support, this was not as large of a problem. Fundamentalists also formed private colleges, where they taught their most extreme ideas. Their motive was to try and gain more supporters, and it was very affective in southern states for a while, until the absolute separation of church and state was enforced.



<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) Scopes Trial
> law, The Butler Act.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Dayton Tennessee, 1925.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">John Thomas Scopes was charged with teaching evolution in a public school; this was illegal at the time because of the Tennessee
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Trial was called "The Monkey Trial," because many bible enthusiasts believed evolution was all about how man came from monkeys. [[image:http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/mmh/clash/Scopes/Images/Monkies.gif height="195" align="right" caption="The Monkey Trial"]]
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">William Jennings Bryan prosecuted Scopes. Clarence Darrow, defended Scopes. These two gave the trial world wide attention.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Darrow asked Bryan difficult questions involving direct adherence of the bible.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">He ended up embarrassing and humiliating Bryan, who was considered an expert on the Bible.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Scopes lost, and was charged $100. The conviction was later reversed because of a small legal error.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">2) Christian Universities
====**<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Bob Jones University (Greenville, South Carolina) <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;"> **====
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 29px;">founded in 1947.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">established by world-famous evangelist Bob Jones Sr.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">stresses belief in absolute authority of the Bible.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">many students train for service as Christian leaders.

====**<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia) **====
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">founded in 1971.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">established by Thomas Road Baptist Church (member Jerry Falwell).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">follows views of the Moral Majority.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Fundamentalism in <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 210%;">BROADCASTING:
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Many Fundamentalists realized that not all people could come to campaigns, or church gatherings. Because of this they began to use other resources to keep the faith alive. Through television networking and broadcasting they could get their message across and spread ideas to those who would have otherwise not been able attend regular sermons. Unlike ever before they could now reach audiences across the country and even across the globe. This means more funding and more support to leaders and organizations.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) Televangelicals

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">[[image:http://s3.amazonaws.com/l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock1396711.jpg align="right"]]Known as the "electronic church" ministry.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Popular television evangelists: Oral Roberts, Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jimmy Swaggart.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Appeal to their audience for support and donations
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">inexpensive jewelry, books and pamphlets, cassettes, or printed copies of sermons are offered to those who call or write.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">many televangelists have been widely criticized
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">mainline church leaders claim that such "commercializing" cheapens religion.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">2) Christian Broadcasting Network

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">[[image:http://www.ipfw.edu/sigmaxi/images/11949849161257289955radio_wireless_tower_cor_.svg.med.jpg width="126" height="168" align="right"]] nonprofit radio and television network specializing in religious programming.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">1960 ** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> - established and run by Pat Robertson.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">most commercially successful of contemporary religious broadcasters.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">helped spread their ideas to those people who can't go to church or public meetings.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">world-wide media empire.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">"700 Club" is on twice a day on 300 TV stations in 70 countries.


 * <span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">Important Figures in Broadcasting: **

||
 * ====<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**<span style="color: #2a0b93; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">Jerry Falwell ** ====
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Born in Lynchburg Virginia, he formed the Thomas Road Baptist Church.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;"> **1970's** - TV stations broadcasted the church's weekly "Old-Time Gospel Hour".
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;"> **1971** - the group established Lynchburg Baptist College (now Liberty University).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">** 1979 ** - helped to establish the **__ Moral Majority __**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;"> **2004** - established a law school to train attorneys who fight for conservative causes. ||> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 170%;">[[image:http://thescroogereport.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/jerry_falwell0515.jpg width="183" height="219" align="center" caption="Young Jerry Falwell" link="http://thescroogereport.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/jerry_falwell0515.jpg"]]

<span style="color: #2a0b93; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 195%;">**Pat Robertson** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">* Marion Gordon Robertson, nicknamed Pat, was born in Lexington, Virginia.

||
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1960 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> - established the **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1987 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> - announced candidacy for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">supported school prayer, a balanced federal budget, and a ban on abortion.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">lost to George H. W. Bush.
 * **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1989 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> - founded the __**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Christi ****<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">an ** **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Coalition **__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> - served as head of the organization in **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1989 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> and from **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1999 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> to **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">2001 **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">condemned femanists, homosexuals, abortion, and liberal professors. || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[[image:http://www.aref.de/news/allgemein/2005/pics/pat-robertson_time.jpg width="180" height="240" align="center" caption="Pat Robertson - "Televangelist"" link="http://www.cephas-library.com/wordoffaith/robertson_time.jpg"]]

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The most recognized book about Fundamentalist beleifs was writen by fundamentalists for fundamentalists. It was published in the early 19th century to gain awareness and support from Americans.

<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) The Fundamentals
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;"> The Fundamentals: a Testimony to the Truth
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">a set of 90 essays in 12 volumes, published from 1910 to 1915
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">intended to serve as a resource for and defense of essential christian doctrines; reflected core values of the Bible
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">written as a response to modernism and liberal theology in 19th and 20th century
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">made for ministers at gospel, missionaries, and Sunday schools.

==<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;"><span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Fundamentalism and <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 190%;">WOMEN: ==

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 121%;">In America, the difference between womens rights and mens rights are basically obsolete. However in different groups around the world, this can still be an issue. One of these groups is Fundamentalists. Many Fundamentalists, even in America, still believe that a womans voice is worth less than a mans. This has become a huge obstacle for those Fundamentalists who try to excel in politics in particular. Fundamentalists also are troubled by their very strict and outspoken opinion on abortion. In 1970, this compelled them to take a stand in the Roe vs Wade trial. This was a very unsucessful act though, ending in the legalization of abortion throughout the United States. So for the most part, these particular beliefs have lost them support and dignity, exactly the oposite of what they wanted.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">1) Place in Society

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">A woman can not have authority over a man.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The husbands views always prevail, no matter how ill-informed
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">in 1992, Pat Robertson stated: //The Feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their hisbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.//

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">2) Views on Abortion

 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Christian Fundamentalists are strongly //against// abortion.[[image:http://abortioninireland.a.b.pic.centerblog.net/wwv8d3z3.jpg width="218" height="131" align="right" caption="a sticker promoting abortion for Ireland"]]
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Bible states, in the word of God, "You shall not murder," (Exodus 20:13).
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The fith amendment states, //Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.//
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">This is the main argument of Fundamentalists against abortion; **it is murder**. This issue is very controvertial throughout the world, and Christian Fundamentalists make their opinions very clear.

===<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">3) Roe vs. Wade Trial ===
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Norma McCorvey became pregnant in 1969, and wanted an abortion.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">There was a Texas law (1859) that stated women can not get an abortion except to save her life.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">McCorvey used the name Jane Roe in the trial. She was concerned that the trial would be less important if it was debated after she was aloud to get an abortion (4 months).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">She argued that "The Texas abortion laws must be declared unconstitutional because they deprive single women and married couples, of their right, secured by the Ninth Amendment, to choose whether to have children."
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The decission: Invalidated all state laws restricting women's access to abortions during the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy and upheld only those second-trimester (three to six month) restrictions that protected the health of pregnant women.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Significance: This decission made abortion legal in the United States

==<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 210%;">Fundamentalism and <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 274.4%;"> SAME SEX MARRIAGE: ==

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Almost as clear as their opinions on abortion, Fundamentalists have taken a strong position on the new topic of Gays and Lesbians. Currently, there are still many people who are unsure of what to think of this strange new sexual orientation, so the stong outlook that the Fundamentalists have is easy to follow. Recently there have been a few states who have made gay marriage legal, despite the thoughts of Christian Fundamentalists. Again, their tough outlook on this controversial situation is an obstacle while trying to gain support, and as acceptance of gays increases, it will become even more and more of an obstacle. It seems for the moment atleast, that Fundamentalists are unsucessful in the battle with Gays and Lesbians.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">1) Why?

 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamentalists believe that all sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">many passages do condemn homosexual acts, calling them 'sodomites.' [[image:http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513V2h-5BBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg width="240" height="240" align="right" caption="a book about the relationship between gays and evangelicals"]]
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">There are no committed sexual relations in the bible.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Bible speaks of homosexual acts, but not of sexual orientation. Since it is not mentioned in the Bible, it // can't exist //.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">God destroyed the city of Sodom. because the men in the city were having homosexual desires.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 140%;">2) Can they be HELPED?

 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Since only homosexual acts exist, not homosexual orientation, some believe that (interpreting Corinthians 6:9-10) that if Gays and Lesbians are saved, then God will remove their homosexual feelings and convert them to heterosexuality.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">So some Christians believe that Gays can be saved through prayer and counseling.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 150%;">Important Figures <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 200%;">TODAY:

 * <span style="color: #2a0b93; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 180%;">**Joel Osteen - The "Feel Good" Gospel**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**born in Houston, now married with two children.**


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">father developed Lakewood Church with 6,000 members and an active television minister.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">spent 17 years producing the show with his father and later became the Pastor.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">services are seen in over 100 nations around the world.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Preaching:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">says he chooses to focus on goodness of god rather than sin.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">he doesn't include Bible verses because he sees himself as a life coach.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">tries to teach Biblical principles in a simple way.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">emphasizes the power of love and positive attitude.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Popularity:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2006** - he was named one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People" by Barbara Walters.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">"Most Influential Christian in America" by The Church Report.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Former presidential candidate John McCain has described Osteen as "inspirational".
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2007** - toured around several countries presenting programs in large stadiums.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">__Criticism:__
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2005** - appearance on Larry King accused of not believing that Christ was the way to Heaven.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**2007** - 60 Minutes methods of teaching is Christian heresy.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fox New Sunday noticed a lack of Scripture reference in sermons.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">many say his sermons only use concepts of prosperity theology or prosperity gospel.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">belief that wealth and power are rewards for devoted Christians. || [[image:http://mypetfat.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/26/joel_osteen.jpg width="221" height="282"]]

<span style="color: #2a0b93; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 225%;"> ||

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<span style="color: #179292; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">** Success: ** <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 143%;"> Overall, the Fundamentalist Movement was a success. By forming groups such as the Christian Coalition and Moral Majority, fundamentalists were able to spread their ideas to many different groups of people. In politics, they were a force to be reckoned with because they placed members with their ideas into office enabling their traditional values to be incorporated into politics. Fundamentalists stayed active in schools, particularly in southern states such as Texas, using textbooks and teachers who favored their views. They used the growing popularity of broadcasting and television to expand their audience and gain financial support. Although they made a substantial impact on society they still face many criticisms today. Many major figures have been accussed of interpreting the Bible for their own personal benefit, and that they are not staying true to their traditional values. They face the obstacles or abortion, and same sex marriage, which they strongly appose, challenged by the many others who support it. Because of an increase in liberal ideas over the past decades the fundamentalist movement has lost some popularity. Even with these ideas of evolution, women's choice, and homosexuality, the fundamentalists have still been able to stick to their firm beliefs, and influence people enough to continue the following of the movement.




 * Dr. Halpin, our table of contents is a little messed up, but we talked to Ms. Dalbec and she couldn't figure out why it was messing up the text and creating weird tabs, so she told us to leave it the way it is.