SV: [Y-Indology] Code of Ethics for the Indology List

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rajiv.malhotra [sMTP:rajiv.malhotra] skrev 11. juni 2001

23:25:

> Definition of terms would be helpful as well. For example, in Judeo-

> Christian studies, a perfectly respectable and indeed popular field

> is to make `literal' interpretations of the Bible. This is called

> Literalist Christianity or literalist interpretation. Nobody calls

> them radicals, fundamentalists, nationalists, extremists, or the

> like.

 

As far as I know, that is precisely what we call them: fundamentalists,

extremists, if not necessarily nationalists (nationalism plays little part

in it, as far as I know. It is pure theology.)

 

>As per Gallop Poll, almost half of all American Christians

> believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible - hence it would

> not be a viable definition of what the term `fundamentalist' means.

 

Why not? A fundamentalist is by definition a person who interprets the Holy

Scripture in a literalist sense, a person who shies away from historical

interpretations and critical analysis. The fact that half the American

population thinks like this, is irrelevant as far as the definition goes.

 

>From a European perspective, it is of course a symptom of the average

American's eternal lack of sophistication :-). We are not surprised. Are

you, by the way, of the opinion that the average Joe's views on physics and

chemistry should be a guiding light for thinking intellectuals?

 

Lars Martin Fosse

 

 

Dr. art. Lars Martin Fosse

Haugerudvn. 76, Leil. 114,

0674 Oslo

Norway

Phone: +47 22 32 12 19

Mobile phone: +47 90 91 91 45

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Email: lmfosse