No More Than This

Years before it was considered a dirty word, fundamentalism actually meant a return to the fundamentals of christian faith (as perceived by some). It was an attempt to move away from the ugliness of excessive dogmatics and denominational in-fighting. The idea was to return to the purest expression of christian faith possible. The maze of doctrine was paired down to a digestible chunk. However, as history has demonstrated, the chunk was still too big. It did not take long before fundamentalists were mired once again into dogmatic battles, and indeed have developed a rather infamous reputation for doctrinal disputes.

Was the problem that they went to far, or that they did not go far enough in trying to find the core of theological understanding? Ironically in this case less is more - but not in a good way! I believe that the fundamentalist had the right idea, that doctrinal confusion or dogmatism does little to benefit church nor society. I don't believe that they went far enough.

Every religion has to its credit a plethora of doctrines and theories of varying complexity. In every faith the issues of sin and death are wrestled with, and invariably a doctrine or theory of salvation is proposed - and then fought over. Invariably the communities fighting to declare that they have the true understanding of and answers for life fail to live up to their own hype. Theories and rationalizations follow, and thus begins the inevitable doctrinal wars and battles.

Perhaps the reality is that no religion really has the answers. Maybe what they have are workable theories, much like scientific theories, that answer many questions, not all, and are destined to be replaced by newer theories tomorrow. Perhaps all of these doctrinal theories are deliberately complex - a Freudian illusion to hide the truth - the truth that we have failed, and continue to fail, to live up to our highest ideals. After all, what is the point of all these religious theories but to explain why we failed, and more importantly, what it is that we failed at. Inevitably, in every faith, the problem is that we have failed morally. Was the gospel proclaimed to convince the world of the trinity, or convict of sin and save people from said sin - namely, to make people righteous (today, or in the eternal estate). A maze of doctrines was eventually formed to explain and excuse mans continual failure. When pressed about the fundamentals of the law (and faith), Jesus nailed it down (literally):
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Mat 22:36-40

Therein lies the true fundamentals - all other doctrinal theories revolve and are subservient to it. This is practically manifested by the Golden Rule. And Jesus was not alone in this. This core, this fundamental understanding, is represented by most, if not all, of the worlds great religions. Perhaps, just perhaps, we need no more than this.