Replies

Spengler is usually sound, but on this his criticism is actually of the key virtue of American fundamentalism: its adamant, Biblically-based opposition to the worst intellectual trends of the last hundred and fifty years: materialism; atheism; scientism; Darwinism; and Freudianism.

For rank and file American Protestants, Fundamentalism provides a stiffening of resistance to the heresies of the modern world, a resistance that is otherwise lacking in mainline Protestant denominations. The lack of polished intellectual refutations to those trends is unappealing to educated minds like Spengler's and so many others, but the best Roman Catholic and conservative Protestant (and Jewish) theologians provide the necessary supplements for those Fundamentalists seeking them.

In the end, despite the vast differences in temperament and tradition between Fundamentalism and Roman Catholicism, on essential issues, they rest on similar core propositions. Fundamentalism has spun out various forms of Creationism that contest modern science to a sometimes ludicrous degree, while Catholic teaching accommodates Evolution without fatal difficulty. Yet the Catholic profession of faith states without equivocation: "I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen." Take that, Darwin, you bearded atheist.

American Fundamentalism is relatively young as an intellectual and moral force. In the coming decades, it will become more sophisticated as it matures, borrowing and adapting from the best conservative theologians. But I hope American Fundamentalism never abandons its core strength: a potent and sincere faith in the Bible as the revealed Word and in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. That is essential to Christianity, and keeping the essential clear is at the heart of all worthy things.

"But I hope American Fundamentalism never abandons its core strength: a potent and sincere faith in the Bible as the revealed Word and in Jesus Christ as the Son of God."

& the fact that Jesus Christ as the Son of God rose from the dead.

the apostle Paul speaking in 1st Corinthians chapter 15:

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

& Acts chapter 17:

30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."