Slaves to Faith

"Have you ever wondered how Fundamentalists think or make sense of the world? This book will tell you all you want to know and more. Dr. Calvin Mercer has written an absolutely excellent book providing information into the world view of Fundamentalists, their thinking processes, and strategies for dialogue with them. Dr. Mercer is well-qualified to provide such a comprehensive examination and does so in a very thorough and readable book. He first discusses the birth of Fundamentalism, then the core Fundamentalist beliefs, then (and especially interesting to me) presents a psychological profile of them. He concludes with several strategies for dialogue because their very certainty and cognitive literalism make it difficult for them to engage in discussions of theological issues." -- E. Thomas Dowd, Ph.D., ABPP President, American Board of Cognitive & Behavioral Psychology "The contemporary religious landscape seems to be a fertile breeding ground for various fundamentalisms of all sorts. The religious community needs to understand all we can about this worldwide phenomenon. Calvin Mercer has given us an engaging, insightful analysis that helps to penetrate the fundamentalist way of thinking. I found his work most helpful." -- William H. Willimon Bishop, North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church Visiting Research Professor, Duke Divinity School

As Dr. Mercer posits, the fundamentalist is fundamentally driven by anxiety layered over a fragile sense of self-identity constructed upon a system of beliefs that is both logically inconsistent and highly suspect in light of modern science.

As Dr. Mercer posits, the fundamentalist is fundamentally driven by anxiety layered over a fragile sense of self-identity constructed upon a system of beliefs that is both logically inconsistent and highly suspect in light of modern science. As a result, the fundamentalist completely rejects modernity while battling mightily in the arena of national politics and culture to bring about a world that aligns more closely with the fundamentalist worldview. Focusing on Christian fundamentalists, the author puts Christian fundamentalism in its historical and theological contexts. At the same time, Mercer calls upon cognitive theory to explain that the fundamentalist's life story is not particular to Christianity or any other religious belief system but that fundamentalist Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and those of all other faiths share a common psychological profile. Indeed, Mercer insists that if the Christian terminology were eliminated from contemporary fundamentalist Christian rhetoric, what would remain would be a framework that fundamentalists from other religions would find quite familiar and even comforting. In other words, the structure of the fundamentalist worldview, and the psychology beneath it, is pretty much the same across religions. It is a controversial thing to say about Christian fundamentalism, a thesis that has already proved contentious in the author's public appearances, and one that is sure to generate considerable attention and passionate debate as the U.S. populace continues to divide into opposing ca