What immediately struck me about this chapter from Strozier was the fact that fundamentalist pastors gain their legitimacy through their knowledge of Revelation. The ideas and images of Revelation are clearly some of the most popular biblical themes to fundamentalists because it could be about them. Everyone is more fascinated with their own history than with others’, in the same way, fundamentalists believe (and hope) that Revelation is about them. Therefore, fundamentalists are always in search of and hope that they find the sinners, so that they can be the ones who are saved.
Fundamentalism leads to violence because fundamentalists hope for violence. They need to find people who the can label “evil” in order for God to enact his wrath and bring about the ending salvation. This is clear not only in extreme groups like those of Waco or Heaven’s Gate, but of all fundamentalists. There are many parts of the bible that are glossed over and ignored in the present because they don’t fit in with societal norms, but it is often hardest to forget biblical passages that can create a group of sinners that are not Christians. Pre-martial sex will not bring about the end-times because many people from different groups do that. Homosexuality, on the other hand, will because homosexuals are a clearly defined group that can then take the role at “them”. This leads to violence against this group because fundamentalists are looking to set up the foundation for the apocalypse by getting a head start on God’s wrath.
Finding groups of sinners in this way is even more important now that, as Strozier says, fundamentalism is a white, privileged religion. Revelation was written for the oppressed masses, when the oppressors were clearly the sinners. Now, those who believe they are destined for salvation are often the ones in charge, or allied with them. This creates even more violence because it is no longer just a fight between classes that were already at odds with one another. Fundamentalists search out and antagonize people who would rather leave them alone, in order to feel victimized and define a sinner.
Hi Anastassia, most fundamentalists are still from less privileged backgrounds, although as Strozier says, it is on the rise for the upper classes. We also read earlier that leaders of such movements are often from a privileged group but lead those who are not.