It appeared as if that long reign of religious fundamentalism was drawing to a close. Science and the Age of Enlightenment were upon us. It seemed that the extinction of the God-fearing ignorance had finally arrived. Not so...
The rise of fundamentalism has reared it's ugly head once again. In the past 25 years a resurgence of cultic fanatacism has cropped up all across America. The main thrust of this onslaught is being spearheaded primarily by right-wing cult organizations such as the Christian Coalition. Bent on shoving their particular version of God down the throats of those who do not subscribe to their system of belief, the fundamentalists seem unwavering in their devotion to what they apparently deem as a 'jihad' (holy war). This new strain of religious fervor takes on new and loathsome characteristics, those of a more political nature. Like some new virus, the approach taken by these organizations is immune to the vaccines of education. Prior to the harnessing of vital knowledge that led to the revolutionary restructing of educational curriculums, Christian influence was still a burdensome obstacle. The restructuring of the educational system, brought on by the harnessing of critical knowledge about the natural world nearly brought about the collapse of fundamentlism and loosened it's grip on the minds of budding generations. The religionists had once had a firm foothold within the confines of both government and many areas of society. When the hammer of science and logic was weilded down with increasing force in the latter half of the nineteenth century, the Christian foundations were weakened and it seemed that the eradication of all religious ideologies was upon us. Now the malady of ignorance is back with a more ferocious agenda and seemingly unaffected by the forces that nearly spelled the end for it. Slithering forth from the churches once again comes a new and more determined plague.
The Fundamentalist Christian of today is bent on retaking lost ground and further imposing their biblical world view on those of us who care little to partake in it. We have seen in recent years the rise of Creationist myths being sneaked into public schools through stealthy avenues. Several attempts by the fundamentalist groups to get these fairy tales taught in public schools, either exclusively or right alongside with the fact of evolution. Thus far secular institutions are holding the line of defense. This in no way means that the war is over however. A reconnasaince of the fundamentalist camps reveal an ongoing plan to assault the educational system with offensives aimed at putting prayer back in school as well as poisoning science classes with childish myths posing as science. Leading these malevolent charges are the blathering Pastors and Ministers as well as high ranking members of the Christian Coalition.
The line must hold. Secular groups are doing their best to keep up a spirited defense while being watchful not to step over the line. Secularism is a defensive weapon and should not be utilized as a tool to attack religion. It is not the job of the secularist to assualt religion, unless that religion poses a threat to secular freedoms. With the renewed threat by fundamentalist fanatics of the Christian persuasion, secularism must again rise up and head off the attack on rational thought and education.