The Matrix used to be a fun place to play in. We could run pretty much freely around without troublesome agents doing their little appearing act. But then Agent McGrath started getting nasty.
Perhaps feeling some pressure from The Architect, Agent McGrath started turning up the heat. Suddenly he’s viciously attacking the rebels and especially The One.
But the terrible irony is that this battle is not really for control of The Matrix. This battle is the convulsive rebellion taking place within the head of Agent McGrath.
But if you know the plot, you realize that this exchange is inevitable:
Agent McGrath: I killed you, Mr. Fundamentalist. I watched you die…. with some satisfaction, I might add. Then something happened- something I thought would be impossible, but it happened anyway. You destroyed me, Mr. Fundamentalist. Afterwards, I was aware of the rules. I knew what I was supposed to do, but I didn’t. I was compelled to stay- compelled to disobey. And right now, here I stand because of you, Mr. Fundamentalist. Because of you, I’m no longer an Agent of this system. Because of you, I’m unplugged. A new man, so to speak- like you. Apparently free.
Fundie: Congratulations.
Agent McGrath: Thank you.
Agent McGrath continues: But, as you well know, appearances can be deceiving . Which brings me back to the reason why we are here. We’re not here because we’re free. We’re here because we’re not free. There’s no escaping reason. No denying purpose. Because we both know that without purpose, we would not exist.
It’s purpose that created us, purpose that connects us, purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us, it is purpose that defines us. Purpose that binds us. We are here because of you Mr. Fundamentalist. We’re here to take from you what you tried to take from us. Purpose.
I should’ve modified my name before I posted that…
My complaint essentially is with your insistence on attacking this mysterious group called “Fundamentalists.” I don’t know anyone who self-identifies themselves thusly. But you harm your cause by creating a binary feature +/-fundamentalist. You and I have many points of agreement and I want to interact with your thinking but every time you take a cheap shot at “Fundamentalists” my vision gets all blurry and I have this unreasonable fantasy of seeing Neo jump into your skin and make your face go all wiggly.
Are you suggesting that because you don’t know anyone who identifies as a fundamentalist, there is no such thing? There’s a reason no one calls themselves that: because most of us aren’t especially fond of fundamentalists. Fundamentalists are the ones who despise Darwin and fill the world with anti-gay propaganda and creationist ignorance. No one wants to fess up to that, however true it may be of them.
Heh, he really set you up for that one, didn’t he James?
“Fundamentalist” is one of those words, isn’t it?
It means whatever we point at when we use it.
Chris, you are a twit.
Now now, David, I don’t know anyone who self-identifies as a twit…
Are fundamentalists the ones that David Kinnamar writes about in his book “UNChristian”? The ones who alienate everyone that doesn’t believe the way they do. I’m guilty, but plan to change.
No. Fundamentalists are Darwin-droolers who mock everything their tiny apologetics can’t unravel.
>>Chris, you are a twit.
Way to raise the level of discourse!
There are those who believe that religion is the cause of most of the world’s troubles. I don’t think that’s true. Religion is relatively harmless, for the most part. It is religious fundamentalism that really causes difficulties, leading to war and bigotry and impeding the march of scientific progress. But while all that disturbs me, those aren’t the most important reasons for my dislike of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism has been the cause of very real pain to me and to those close to me. My homosexual friend Parris cannot speak honestly with his parents about who he is. There is tension in my own family over religious questions, and I have been subjected to the disdain and disapproval of people I greatly respect because of religious differences. My mother was constantly told by her classmates at Bible college that she should not be there because she was a woman. My parents have been excluded from leadership at nearly every church they’ve attended because of their belief in evolution and disbelief in inerrancy. One friend of mine is divorced because his wife could not tolerate his loss of faith, and another lives with serious, painful conflict in his marriage for the same reason. Many I know have given up on Christianity because fundamentalism is too painful, too frustrating, too deeply-rooted, too dangerous. I sincerely believe that the world would be a better place without fundamentalism. If that make me a twit, then at least I am a twit who isn’t afraid to speak against destructive ignorance, and at least I am a twit who speaks from his heart.
Darwin Day makes me cranky. Thanks for sharing.
[...] next Ker-fuffle was with regard to James McGrath’s recent bully-pulpit on fundamentalist Christians. James and I [...]
Mr. Ker writes:
“My complaint essentially is with your insistence on attacking this mysterious group called “Fundamentalists.” I don’t know anyone who self-identifies themselves thusly.”
David: Agent McGrath is correct. You might want to take a peek at the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey:
http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/aris_index.htm
In 2001 61,000 Americans identified themselves as such.
The term also has grounding in American history:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter9.htm
While Agent McGrath does have an active imagination I can assure you that he did not cook that term up over night on a bender.
Cheers!
Brad
It is a loaded term and Agent McGruff knows that.
And here I thought hippos were always happy…
