What is a purist?

Answer 1

Void of contamination, the principle by which a person operates under remains true to form. It is also just another label. Words are bandied about in today's culture that have gone from comfortably categorizing people into to certain groups and Demographics towards full scale propaganda. Purist, fundamentalist, progressive, reformer, conservative, liberal, neo-conservative, capitalist, communist, socialist, Keynesian capitalist, Marxist, left, right, and all that's left, right? What once were labels now serve as pejoratives, mis-characterizations, Orwellian double speak. The right are fascists, the left are communists, or socialists, the Marxist so entrenched in their dogma they're actually conservatives, the so called neo-conservatives so liberal in their view of conservative politics, so liberal in their view of the Constitution of the United States of America, they are the new left. Scientist that increasingly act in religious ways about their beliefs and spiritual leaders pushing their way into the field of science in order to compete with science, Corporations, granted their existence by the people have abandoned the people of the United States for a global economy, and all the Marxists and communists and socialists point to the plundering corporations and cry capitalism! The capitalists in turn point to the oppressive and progressive taxation unfairly levied upon the corporate structure and the people sit back in amazement, alternately dumbfounded and genuinely amused at the circus of modern day politics and the labels we use.

What does all this have to do with the question asked? What is purism? It is to keep your ideas and actions to its simples form, the very essence of your strategy, philosophy or calling. I've heard of Jazz purists, fan boy comic book collector purist, Star Trekkies purism, there are The Lord of the Rings purists and I have heard people use the term to describe people who take a strict interpretation of the Constitution. I have also heard them called Constitutionalist's but it is the word purist I have in the past taken exception to. Because I've been called a purist in regards to the constitution and now that I write this I wonder if maybe I am. Just like the fan boy comic book collectors I fawn over that document like it were Spiderman #1. The Stan Lee, Steve Ditko fans always resistant to the modern writers who take liberties with spiderman and Peter Parker as if he were malleable and formless in shape. Devoid of any character or principle he is just another tabula rasa to serve as a mouthpiece for the writers who use Spiderman to propogate their own political philosophy. Fan boys hate this. I feel the same way about the Constitution. I guess I am a purist and the word suddenly suits me just fine.

Answer 2

A purist is someone who adheres strictly to a particular set of beliefs, principles, or practices, often rejecting any modifications, adaptations, or compromises. They believe in maintaining the authenticity and original integrity of something without dilution or alteration.