And “wacky fringe” sounds fine by me!

And, how blog-commenter of me to complain about what to call this group, when I can’t think of an adequate way to refer to them myself. I see what you mean. The way I think of them, “Wacky Fringe,” doesn’t have a very academic ring to it. :)

But I’m aware of the problem with the definition. Since I talk about the true crazies of the Christian right a lot, I need a good way to identify them. I would say that that group is the intersection of fundamentalist & evangelical, but you’re right that fundamentalist is relative. Is there a better way to define them though? You’re very right that clarity is important. My family and I are liberal Christians, and we wouldn’t want Freshwater’s crimes attributed to our beliefs.

According to a study referred to on the Volokh Conspiracy (http://www.volokh.com/posts/1214105408.shtml) (fascinating post, btw) 33% of Americans identify themselves as Evangelical Christians. If a group that broad were really as nutty as you say they are, brandings like this would be so common as not to be newsworthy. Though I don’t classify myself as such, when you say “Evangelical” you are not referring to a 1% snake-handling fringe. And what “fundamentalist” means is sort of in the eye of the beholder.

I don’t think I agree with PC’s classification (I think Evangelical is far broader than fundamentalist) but I think clarity is important.

More statistics (which truly blew my mind) on the American public from the Institute for Jewish and Community research (Volokh has the striking comparisons to numbers among academics)
93% believe in God
85% identify with a particular denomination
85% say religion is very or somewhat important in their lives
86% want their children to receive religious training

It’s unfair to Christians to take him as representative of any subset of them. His behavior was illegal, destructive, and without basis in any mainstream Christian doctrine. I’m not holding my breath to see you write about how Muslim suicide bombers are a symptom of a “The Muslim Persecution Complex.” But, while talk of changing the Constitution to make it more Christian has become about as idle as talk of reparations for slavery (both, in my cynical view, just a way to get votes) there’s a case right now (CRAP I can’t remember the name – I’m sure you’ve seen it) where one side is arguing that a US Court ought to apply Shari’a law. I think that’s the more “live” confrontation between our government and religion.