Quakers are not fundamentalist, and even Mennonites are only marginally fundamentalist--both are pacifist. Amish are, sort of, in their own way, but many of them don't vote because of their fundamentalism [go figure--which Bible tells them not to vote?]. However those who do, while conflicted by hot-button issues like homosexuals and abortion, are more concerned about war, since they're also pacifists. I like my Amish neighbors anyway--they're always so friendly and practical. 

Moravians are also evangelical and not fundamentalist, to the point where their members have been persecuted by more fundamentalist-leaning sects like the Southern Baptists.

People in central Pennsylvania are much more likely to be evangelical than fundamentalist. There are more moderate evangelicals than conservatives, and a fair size minority of liberal evangelicals, while the fundamentalists are much less than 1%.

Since housing costs have skyrocketed in the Baltimore-Washington area, more people who work in Baltimore [i.e. more moderate] are moving to PA for the less expensive housing, and that's beginning to make a difference, too.

Fundamentalism may not be as loathesome as one might expect from some televangelists, but it is ignorant,  closed-minded, fearful of knowledge, fearful of neighbors, fearful of the future--although tolerated as long as adherents don't interfere with the rest of us. Unfortunately, they home-school their children to keep them "in the dark".

by zenie on 04/03/2008 01:32:42 PM EST

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Zenie, I think the problem here is ambiguous verbiage. Mega-church evangelicals are called fundamentalists these days, when in fact they are anything but. The currently popular definition of fundamentalism is not what it started out meaning. I am a Quaker and have Mennonite and Moravian friends. No Amish friends but I grew up in PA where most folks understand Amish culture and religion.  I think a lot of Quakers, like me, consider themselves fundamentalists. The whole point of fundamentalism is unwavering simplicity in matters of faith. Sadly, these days it means just the opposite in so many cases, and has become twisted into unwavering allegiance to dogma, and not only in Christianity.
 
Perhaps I  shouldn't have used the old terminology and confused you (and likely others, as well). If you know Quakers, you know we have trouble letting go of old terminology that has worked well for so long, haha. I promise I am not "ignorant, closed-minded, fearful of knowledge, fearful of neighbors, fearful of the future". Well, maybe a little fearful of the future if McCain is elected.  And I still love Pennsylvanians even though I don't live there anymore. Given enough time to hear Obama's message, they will get it.

by Verified1 on 04/04/2008 07:44:45 AM EST

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