Excerpt from Columns: Glimpses of a Seminary Under Assault
by Russell H. Dilday

In the light of recent world events swirling around Islamic extremists, the term “fundamentalism” has become a household word with negative connotations. A fundamentalist is”one with extremist, fanatical views. Convinced that their position is the only right one, fundamentalists are confrontational and argumentative, demonizing anyone who differs. Reflecting a hidden insecurity, fundamentalists try to control others, forcing them into conformity. In furthering their cause, the end often justifies the means.

At one time among Baptists the term had a positive implication. A fundamentalist was someone committed to the fundamentals of the faith. But today, the term “fundamentalism” suggests a mind-set that is narrow, self-righteous, smug, judgmental, rigid, angry, combative, negative, critical, sanctimonious, and hypocritical. Whether it is political fundamentalism or philosophical fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalism or Baptist fundamentalism, these same characteristics will likely be shared.

I encountered this negative fundamentalist mind-set among the individuals who conspired over the last twenty-five years to seize control of the Southern Baptist Convention. Let me be clear that, in vigorously opposing their assault, I was not against conservative theology or unsympathetic with the desire to keep our Baptist denomination rooted in orthodox biblical faith. My disagreement was always aimed at the fundamentalist spirit, the secular political methodology of the takeover party, their disregard for authentic Baptist principles, the exaggeration of their accusations, and the twisting of the Scriptures they claimed to believe. This clarification may help future Baptists answer the question, “Why were those who opposed the so-called“‘conservative resurgence’ in the SBC so bothered?””

I served as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1978 to 1994. It was not only the largest seminary in the world, but one of the best. In 1990, Christianity Today released a poll of its readers ranking the effectiveness of American seminaries. Southwestern Seminary was ranked “number 1 among the top 33 graduate theological schools in the nation.” To imagine this great institution, built and supported by the sacrifices of faithful Baptists over ninety years, threatened by a fundamentalist assault was unthinkable. That’s why I and others are so bothered. That’s why I and others vigorously opposed what the leaders of the takeover euphemistically call a’“conservative resurgence.” In the effort to defend Southwestern Seminary, I encountered firsthand the attitude, the politics, the disregard for Baptist principles, the exaggerations, the misinterpretation of the Bible, and other evils of Baptist fundamentalism.

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October 2004