Pop Quiz: What is the religious difference between Jimmy Carter and Jerry Falwell?

[Perky]

Carter is an evangelical and Falwell is a fundamentalist.

I recognize the distinction is probably unimportant to many of my atheist/agnostic friends on DU and I bear them no ill will when I say this. Please try to get your arms around the difference. You will find that it is entirely possible to be both a progressive or a democrat and believe in the Gospel Message. It is on the other hand nearly impossible to be a fundy and be a liberal at the same time.

The point is that the terms are not interchangeable and simply because Jimmy and Jerry both call themselves Born Again Christians does not mean they have similar motivations or politics.

The media and the pollsters do an awful job at making the distinction as well bu White SOuthern Protestants does not mean they are fundamentalist in their politics.

The oddity in all this is that theologically, Jimmy and Jerry probably agree on about 90% or more. But Jimmy believes that the Christ is man's only hope and Jerry think that our nations only hope is fundy-managed theocracy. Look at their lives...Look at their motivations. look at their politics and the difference between fundies and evangelicals should become clearer.

[lumpy]

1. Carter does a pretty good job following his faith.

Fallwell doesn't know the meaning of faith.

[QuestionAll...]

16. and the law/constitution.

I recall he said once on an interiew...
paraphasing here:

''I don't personally agree with many things (abortion, etc.,), but I will uphold the law. It's not about me.''

what he was ticked about (imo) was Why these things are sometimes necessary - why are we failing as a society.

[EST]

2. The real difference is that Jimmy Carter believes and practices

what he preaches. The same cannot be said for the purported leaders of the current movements.

[karlrschneider]

3. Carter is a Christian...Foulball is a sanctimonious Pharisee.

...

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Carter will renounce a chruch if he feels it is wrong

Although he remained a devout Baptist, he renounced his association with the Southern Baptist Convention in October 2000.

http://www.adherents.com/people/pc/Jimmy_Carter.html

[sdfernando]

5. Only one has a soul!

President Carter actually has a soul. I don't know what falwell has, but I wouldn't call it a soul.

[otherlander]

6. Most major reform movements- abolition, worker's rights, etc.

were brought about, at least in part, by liberal Christians. Just one question- aren't fundamentalists a type of evangelicals?

[Perky]

11. There are overlaps both ways

but modern fundamentalism is increasingly obtuse to the gospel meggage because it seek to use political power to orchestrate what can only be accomplished spiritually. If you read the Gospels as Jesus talks about the Pharisees you can see the distinctios quite clearly.

Having said there are plenty of evangelicals who are fundmental in their theoolgy as it relates to creedal statements about God, Trinity, the Resurrection, and even the inerrancy of Scripture. but evangelicals also understand that it is unreasonable to expect an "unsaved" person to live as Christ did. Fundamenetalists I think have been deluded into thinking that legislating morality is the proper role for the church and secularists and hollywood type just need to get over their objections.

[PsN2Wind]

7. Only one used their purported faith

as a way to enrich themselves. Easy to discern which one.

[Maestro]

8. Carter doesn't throw around his faith

as a reason why people must listen to him. He is a man of action as Jesus was. He is a man of integrity that earns respect; he does not expect people to respect him just because he says he fears God. He wants to help humanity not just those that pay money to his Political Action Committees. Carter understands that his type of religion is but one way that many on this Earth express their spirituality instead of condmemning anyone different than he to Hell. Carter is humble about his faith; Falwell is a arrrogant piece of bovine excrement. Carter uses his intelligence to impart his knowledge. Falwell uses biblical threats to impart his stupidity. Falwell and his fellow ilk are all hypocrites. Carter means what he says and does what he means. I could go on, but you get the idea.

[Bluebear]

9. Do you ever post on *any* subject besides religion?

Honestly. Is the only reason you are here to witness or something?

[Perky]

12. Yes of course. Do you?

[Bluebear]

13. Yes, thanks for reply.

[WI_DEM]

10. One is a true man of God and the other is a money loving hypocrite

[itsmesgd]

14. Carter's going to heaven, Falwell's going to have a tan n/t

[Perky]

15. Well I amglad we clarified that

LOL I sense a theme here.. I was trying to enunciate a diffenece between evangelicalism and fundamentalism did sany of you gaet the salient point? Hah

[leesa]

17. Falwell's a criminal and Carter is not.

[morningglory]

18. One is Christlike, and one is a mean a$$h0le. Fundies are in the boat

figuratively speaking with Kansas, voting against their best interests. Virtually all those fundamentalist religions were Democratic before the Civil Rights act. Therefore I think the fundies are more racist than some other churches, thus mean-spirited a$$h0les. Just my 2cents.