What does the "reformed and recovered Christian fundamentalist" mean?
score:7
This isn't really about Christianity, but let me answer anyway.
First, please note that Christopher Hitchens was an extreme and vociferous opponent of both Christianity and Islam. Learning about Christianity from him is like learning about America by reading Soviet Cold War propaganda.
By "reformed and recovered Christian fundamentalist", Hitchens means that Michael Shermer used to be a "Fundamentalist Christian", but isn't any more. (Hitchens describes many Christians as "Fundamentalist" that most people wouldn't).
"Knowing the price of the ticket" means that these are people who have suffered in some way for speaking about about what they believe (or in this case, don't believe). I.e. they they have experienced the cost of speaking out.
Upvote:3
I have not read the passage in question before, but given what I know about Hitchens, he likely means that Dr. Michael Shermer used to be a Christian fundamentalist, but is no longer. A Christian fundamentalist is someone who argues that Christianity ought to only have a small number of doctrines, such as the inerrancy of the Bible and the Virgin-birth of Christ. The proper term "fundamentalist" however has also diverged to other connotations, and is sometimes used in contexts that are not theologically accurate.
I would also offer in passing that Hitchens is unlikely to be a good introduction to Christianity - he is heavily biased against it, so what he says should generally be taken with a grain of salt. For a much better introduction, I would read CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, or other works by CS Lewis or GK Chesterton.
More post
- 📝 Is there a Christian name of the Destroyer Angel?
- 📝 When was the first time God promised eternal life in the Bible?
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians believe in Creatio Ex-nihilo (creation out of nothing)?
- 📝 How do Jehovah Witnesses explain the anger of Caiphas?
- 📝 Why did Martin Luther reject the idea of the priesthood (sacerdotalism)?
- 📝 How do Apostolic Christians interpret arguably sexist verses in Sirach?
- 📝 Did Jesus come to restore the immortality that Adam and Eve lost?
- 📝 Nudity in Christianity?
- 📝 What were the 45 theologians' theological censures of «Amoris Lætitia»?
- 📝 What is the origin and meaning of the rosary?
- 📝 Did the "spirit of Samuel" come from God?
- 📝 What is the difference between a Use and a Rite?
- 📝 From Scripture, what are the signs of demonic presence?
- 📝 How is the "spirituality of the church" consistent with theonomy?
- 📝 Is Deism in Christianity possible? If so, what does it look like?
- 📝 Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John write anything other than the Gospels?
- 📝 Approximate amount of money per year the Catholic church spends for charity?
- 📝 Do Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit stopped leading the church?
- 📝 How to reconcile the Council of Trent and the Apostle John regarding the post-baptismal presence of sin?
- 📝 Does the Russian Orthodox Church recognize Adolf Hitler as a Saint?
- 📝 Is Jesus the fullness of the Logos?
- 📝 How can Saint Thomas Christians who are Catholic have confidence that St. Thomas sailed to Muziris?
- 📝 Cleansing of unclean meat to clean meat interpretation of Acts 10:17-18 and 22-23 in relation to Isaiah 66:17
- 📝 How do Nontrinitarians justify accepting the canon of Scripture but rejecting the Trinity?
- 📝 Reference request about Catholic mitres within the Latin Rite?
- 📝 If Jesus was Emmanuel why was he named Yeshua?
- 📝 According to Pentecostals can a born again believer have spirits?
- 📝 How do Trinitarians explain Titus 1:3 & 4 in light of Isaiah 43:11?
- 📝 Where can I find a free Russian Bible other than the Russian Synodal Translation?
- 📝 How is the claim that the doctrine of Papal Infallibility has always existed within the Church substantiated?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What does the "reformed and recovered Christian fundamentalist" mean?
- 📝 What does the abbreviation "RNIO" mean in a painting of the Virgin and Child?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus, Father, and Holy Spirit are of the same nature but different personas?
- 📝 What does it mean to say the Bible is the "Word of God" and how is it justified?
- 📝 According to Jehovah’s Witnesses what does the name Immanuel mean in light of their belief that Jesus is a created being and not God?
- 📝 What does the Nicene Creed mean when it says that the Father and the Son are of the same substance?
- 📝 What does Augustine mean by the "hymns and psalms" which were introduced into the liturgy?
- 📝 What does it mean to be saved by sanctification and believing the truth? 2 Thessalonians 2:13
- 📝 The word "ascended" and what does it mean "No one has ascended into heaven" in John 3:13?
- 📝 What does it mean when Jesus cannot be separated from the Father and the Holy Ghost?
- 📝 What does D.A. Carson mean about the wrath and the love of God shown in the OT "in experience and types" and made clearer in the NT?
- 📝 According to the Young Earth Creationism, what does it mean Genesis 1:14 and 18?
- 📝 According to the Young Earth Creationism, why there is still the darkness after God created the light and what does it mean Gen 1:4?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law but did not abolish it?
- 📝 What is the meaning and origin of bridal veils in Christian weddings?
- 📝 What exactly does it mean that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus was the "second Adam"?
- 📝 What does it mean to "Bless the LORD"?
- 📝 What is the purpose and meaning of the Christian Flag?
- 📝 What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 What does it mean to interpret the Bible literally?
- 📝 What does Jesus mean by "this generation" and "all these things" in Mark 13:30
- 📝 What is the basis that many mainstream Christian groups justify labeling groups like the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as Non-Christians?
- 📝 What is the Biblical and historical basis for Christian pacifism?
- 📝 What are the differences between the roles of husband and wife in a Christian marriage?
- 📝 What is the Bible and Christian view on Astrology?
- 📝 What does being lukewarm mean in contrast with being hot or cold for the church of Laodicea?
- 📝 If I am a Christian does this mean I need to support the modern state of Israel?
- 📝 Does the Bible make a distinction between Christian and secular love?