Fundamentalist Christianity Versus The Taliban

Of course there are differences, but mostly in degree.

Hard-core fundamentalist Christians hate it when open-minded, free-thinkers compare them to the Taliban... and there are some ways in which that comparison is, of course, unfair: There are no death penalties and beatings for blasphemy, they don't keep women out of school / cars / work / social situations in general, and... well... uh... I'm sure there are at least one or two other differences that would differentiate what a fundamentalist Christian views as a "perfect Christian society", and the social order that the Taliban actually accomplished in Afghanistan... but I can't think of any more right now.

Oh! Of course: One is Muslim and the other is Christian.

But every other difference that can be pointed out is only a matter of degree really. The Taliban doesn't allow any movies, any music, any dancing, et cetera. Christian fundamentalists wouldn't allow most rated-R movies (and any other movie with a "subversive message"), most popular music, most dancing, and most other et ceteras out there, leaving only Biblically-approved, not-offensive-to-God pursuits and entertainment.

In other areas, fundamentalist Christians wouldn't carry things as far as the Taliban would, but they certainly would apply a "modified, modern, liberal Taliban model" to some aspects of life. In a perfect Christian society, they wouldn't ban any or all non-Christian religions, but they would limit their recognition in the public square, while lifting up Christianity wherever possible. They would teach Christian history and philosophy in schools, even to non-Christian children. They might even discriminate against members of other religions... but they wouldn't actually ban their practice. (However, like the Taliban, they might ban their proselytizing.)

Then finally, we come to "modesty for women." In a Christian fundamentalist world, they wouldn't put women in burkas, but they certainly would insist on a modesty and style of dress that has not been seen in this country for over 75 years, give or take, depending on the specific subject matter being discussed. They would insist on cultural and behavioral and social roles for women that predate the Women's Lib movement. They might not punish offenders with beatings, as the Taliban did, but in a fundamentalist-Christian-dominant society, social ostracism would certainly be the least that would happen.

Now, for those of you who would say that "Christian fundamentalists aren't like the Taliban because they are not terrorists", the only reply is, Of course they aren't. Not now, at least.

Christianity is not under siege by an invading army (at least in any meaningful or major way) anywhere in the world, and Christianity has no Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, et cetera, to anger it to action.

Do you really think that if Christianity and Western Civilization were facing a life-or-death crisis of faith and social structure from an outside malevolent force, that those same Christians (or even you and I perhaps) wouldn't rush to it's defense? You can bet they would. In order to safeguard the future of Christianity, Christian culture, American culture, and America itself they would give their lives in any way they could... up to and including terrorist acts against an enemy. Ask anybody from Northern Ireland and they'll probably tell you what zealous Christians are capable of, if belief and faith is strong enough.