Soldiers sang "Silent Night" during World War I.
German and British troops celebrating Christmas
together during a temporary cessation of WWI hostilities.
This became known as the "Christmas Truce of 1914."

"Of course, Paul, you would not attend yourself to different ideas that challenge your position." Of course I would Jose', a closed mind is as good as an empty mind. Always be prepared to listen and learn.

A little story, and it prompted this thread from me. The wife a practising Christian (Anglican) which I also have some association with her Church, not as a believer but as an agnostic who sees good within that particular church, and has involved himself in its "good works" and to share the load with the wife, she involves herself in everything. The wife has made many friends through her church, the other day she received a phone call from Jan, a friend who at one time was a regular at Church, now not to be seen, Jan wanted a catch up, so we joined her for a coffee at a local cafe. As our conversation unfolded Jan revealed she had joined a Pentecostal Church, she gave her reasons, and the reasons she had abandoned Anglicism. Then I realised this was more that a catch up, Jan was on a mission seeking converts, us. Jan prattled on for two hours about the wonders of her new church and the wrongs of mainstream Christianity. Jan lost me when she said she talks directly to God, and to my amazement she said God was talking back to her directly. Not in her mind as one would expect, but at night when her and God are alone together. She admitted she can't see God, but he is in the room having a conversation with her. Jan hopes that one day God will reveal himself to her, not just spiritually, he has already done that, but physically. Jan sees the wife as a good person, but because of my agnosticism, deep and meaningful prayer is required on her part for the redemption of my soul. Being as I am, I said since I don't pray I will hope that she obtains true happiness in life, whatever course she should follow.

All fundamentalism is bad or at least likely to be bad. Of the various types (eg Muslim fundamentalism, eco-fundamentalism, communism/fascism, Buddhist, Hindu) Christian fundamentalism is the least problematic.

For that reason it is the one that the anti-religious movement attacks most often. After all, attacking Muslim fundamentalism might result in a rather violent reply but one rarely runs that risk when having a go at the Christian variety.

Rather amusingly, over at the net-zero thread I pointed out that the usual suspects, while racing to defend the right of the clerics to speak out in ways they approve, would seek to shut down unapproved religious thought where-ever possible. Plus ça change....

Dear Paul,

«We are all aware of the dangers presented to the world by religious fundamentalism when taken to the extreme (its constantly on the nightly news).»

No, I am not aware of a danger to the world, nor of what you mean by "religious fundamentalism" (the title of this thread speaks of "Christian fundamentalism", not "religious fundamentalism"). I suppose I only listen to the daily news rather than that nightly news (unless you mean the kind of news that comes up at night from the depths of one's mind when lying in bed with the eyes closed).

I believe this world is yet to exist for billions of years to come and even once it no longer will, that is not a danger, just a period of rest as when night comes.

Being a little cheeky there Yuyutsu, if you can't comment on Christian fundamentalism as it presents in Australia that's fine. I think my opening post was to the point, and most on this forum, you being the exception, have an understanding of what the topic is about.

Dear Paul,

So long as you speak of Christian fundamentalism rather than misrepresent it as religious, then indeed there is not much for me to comment about: the only interaction I have with this group of people is when they congest the road near their church, moderately blocking the traffic - this is a nuisance but not a danger, and I could say the same about football goers.