Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 9/27/2007

Question
Can you clarify the difference for me?

Thanks so much

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

The lines between Fundamentalism and Conservatism are often blurred.  To the outsider, the two are interchangable.  But to others, the line is great.

There is a great history in fundamentalism starting after world war 1.  The church was seeing great diversity on the "fundamental" beliefs of the Church (scripture, the virgin birth, creation, miracles, resurrection, and eternal life).  Some denominations were beginning to question these beliefs, so "funadamentalists" arose saying that these things are true and that the Bible should be taken literally.  Now, conservatives believe the same thing, so where is the difference?

The difference comes in some doctrinal issues and the  separatist approach toward modernity, toward aspects of the culture which they feel typify the modern world, and toward other Christians who did not similarly separate themselves. Examples of things that fundamentalists might believe important to avoid are modern translations of the Bible, alcohol, tobacco, popular music (often including Christian contemporary music), the use of instruments in worship, dancing, "mixed bathing" (men and women swimming together), gender-neutral clothing, non traditional hair-styles, clothes that are immodest, make-up, television viewing, forbiding women in leadership (at church or in the home), or non-religious reading material.  Such things might seem innocuous to the outsider, but to some fundamentalists they represent the leading edge of a threat to the virtuous way of life and the purer form of belief that they seek to protect and to hold forth before the world as an example. Many fundamentalists accept only the King James Version translation of the Bible and study tools based on it, such as the Scofield Reference Bible.

COnservatives on the other hand, believe that the BIble is the inerrant word of God. But do not add to the Bible.  FOr example, while smoking is bad for your health and hurts others as well, it is not forbidden in scripture.  In fact, it isn't mentioned at all.  A fundamentalist would say it is a sin to smoke, a conservative would say it is bad for you but it isn't a sin.  See the difference?
Dancing to a fundamentalist is a sin because it includes body movements that can be sexual in nature, so all dancing is a sin.  A conservative would say, some dancing could be sinful but not all.  FUndamentalists would say that women are not allowed to teach men or hold a position of leadership in the Bible based on 1 Timothy 2:12.  Conservatives would say, yes this verse says women shouldn't teach, but the Bible also points out women who DID lead in the church (Phoebe, Lydia, Priscilla, Philip's Daughters who were prophets, & Electa).

Fundamentalists claim that the Bible is literally true.  But, they do not believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  They say those gifts died off with the first apostles.  The problem is that the Bible says these gifts exist, so fundamentalists aren't even consistent.