I found Myron Pereira’s “The Tragic Attraction of Fundamentalism” quite enlightening. Thank you for making it available to your readers. Voltaire’s observation “Those made to believe absurdities can equally be led to commit atrocities” is particularly true in the realm of religion. Much internal injustice, silencing of dissent, discrimination, authoritarianism, etc., is undergirded by a fundamentalist approach to scriptures. Fundamentalism thrives among people who are not adequately enlightened. This is one reason why religious leaders do not want their flock to be theologically educated. Fundamentalism is one of the best safeguard for a powerful establishment. If pastors educate their people, they will lose their clientele. That will hit their income, prestige and power. I am afraid this is one reason why some\many bishops are happy with mediocre seminarians. The brighter ones could upset their apple cart. “O most merciful God, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil, above all from the evil of fundamentalist pastors.”

Subhash Anand
St Paul’s School, Bhupalpura, Udaipur-313 001
43subhash@gmail.com