Genocide or Jesus: A God of Conquest or Pacifism? Adopt a loving posture, instead of a defensive one. How do you deal with religious fanatics? First of all, dont panic! No wonder fanaticism is so intoxicating. "I am an atheist for a long time now, as I was exposed more and more to scientific works, the more I was getting. And would a loving Godreally let someone burn foreverbecause they were Jews, or didnt get baptized? Reason is also related to logos, a word with diverse implications over the millennia but related to language, and logic, uniquely human gifts for our ongoing effort to understand the true ways of the world. All content copyright original author unless stated otherwise. Alcoholics Anonymous has been so successful in part because it gives the addict a graceful way out of the corner he or she is painted into. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. [11] From their essentially political position, the Kharijites developed extreme doctrines that set them apart from both mainstream Sunn and Sha Muslims. Heres a rough draft for the 12 Steps of Fanatics Anonymous: Of course, the peculiar move here is replacing god with Reason, and more peculiar perhaps to repurpose the AA model for fanatics anonymous, what with AAs surrender to gods will, the most notorious excuse for fanaticism in fanaticisms long and sordid history. No amount of polite declining is going to make them stop, no rebuttal will make them change their mind and give up religion. Tell them to go suck a bag of dicks but, you know, more nicely. Youll also encounter religious people who are ignorant about atheism, eager to convert you to their truth, and/or hostile to your very presence. The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. It's like fingers scratching across a chalk board. 16 Bryan, D. Fanatics, Mobs and Terrorists: The Dynamics of Orange Parades in Northern Ireland. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Offer to recommend some key atheist works that speak to your point of view, and ask the person to consult them to facilitate your discussion. Byrne, worried . I believe He can, Josh-ah, he said. [8], Shafer adds that, "When the crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they killed Muslims, Jews, and native Christians indiscriminately". https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religious_fanaticism&oldid=1135853911, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". Even my religious family members respect and accept me for who I am. Everything2 is brought to you by Everything2 Media, LLC. Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D., MPP, has a wide research agenda psychology from cradle to grave, lifes origins to our grave situation, grounded in a 25-year close collaboration with Berkeley neuroscientist, biological anthropologist Terrence Deacon. Then set the X number kind of high. You in turn can invite them to a gathering of others like you. Why are Christians guilty of hate speech? This will help to diffuse a potentially bad situation. If you find it fun to discuss or debate religious beliefs, and can do so respectfully, then have at it. We either watched college football or just made conversation. But I never felt like I made much progress until one memorable phone conversation towards the end of his life. Often, we see religious exposure and treat it as religious invasion, or we hear words of faith and interpret them as acts of war.. Listen when they respond. Even politics may be a less contentious topic to bring up. Religious fanaticism, or religious extremism, is a pejorative designation used to indicate uncritical zeal or obsessive enthusiasm which is related to one's own, or one's group's, devotion to a religion - a form of human fanaticism which could otherwise be expressed in one's other involvements and participation, including employment, role, and partisan affinities. Teaching in a World of Violent Extremism. Admitted to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Naw, Josh-ah. If necessary, provide some source recommendations for the other person to consult and request that you resume the conversation at another time. Children may go to church every Sunday with their grandparents, but theyll still look to their parents for true religious guidance. You can start the conversation by saying, Why dont I tell you a little bit more about atheism, so you know where Im coming from.. They may have local get-togethers or events. 1. ", "Another battle with Islam's 'true believers', "The Balance of Islam in Challenging Extremism", "Sayyid Qutb: Founder of Radical Islamic Political Ideology", "The Philosopher of the Muslim Revolt, Sayyid Qutb", "Conspiratorial Narratives in Violent Political Actors' Language", Journal of Language and Social Psychology, "Imam's Path From Condemning Terror to Preaching Jihad", Robert Irwin, "Is this the man who inspired Bin Laden? Like so many of us, you became host to a powerful parasite that mutates quickly and has taken over minds throughout human history. I was at this guy's house buying car parts from him and somehow he gets to talking about being a Christian and asks me what I believe in. Although fanatic jihadists have committed many terroristic acts throughout the world, perhaps the best known is the September 11 attacks. Seen any good movies lately? Additionally, avoid conflicts by being respectfully quiet during religious activities, such as prayer, and by not trying to push your beliefs on others. This is the article for you. Its hard to kick a drug if sobriety means admitting that youre a vile person through and through. You can ask, however, how their religion reconciles evil acts done under the guise of the faith. Remember that there's potential for acceptance, and celebration of these differences, because they're all important. Religious fanaticism definition: Fanaticism is fanatical behaviour or the quality of being fanatical. Thats why its called faith. It makes them feel good. It usually takes around 15-20 minutes to respond. Whilst religions offer advice and encouragement to help people to improve themselves, associations like Subud offer actual experience of the reality. Essentially, I was terrified that I really wasnt a good boy and that He really wasnt a good God. Steer clear of open-ended or hostile questions that wont move the conversation along. About Mother Foundress. Inside the Mind of Fanaticism | HuffPost Contributor Why are we non-theists so outraged, indignant and disgusted when we learn new things about religion? Deeper Division of the classes. There are huge gaps in believers understanding of God, and in those lacunae, I claim, lies strong evidence for No God. He is the author ofWhy Evolution is TrueandFaith vs. Fanatics, ideologues, and absolutists are humanitys greatest scourge. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. (Freedom 24) He goes on to say, "The radicals insist that their central claim God's desire for Islam's triumph requires no interpretation. How to Handle a Religious Fanatic At age 19, I was a proud, Bible-thumping holy-roller who was on a one-man mission to save the world from sin. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. How to deal with Religious Fanatics : by Outer_Real: Mon Oct 13 2003 at 9:39:44: A Cut-Out-and-Keep Ministry of Information Guide . I once told someone I was a Cathode Follower. They think theyre perfectly fine driving. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. Fanaticism Is a Disease Like Alcoholism | Psychology Today If he/she avoids the question or beats around the bush, something is wrong and you may want to take the next step to address possible discrimination with HR or the EEOC. (As if they would anyway!) [10] The driving force of the Inquisition was the Inquisitors, who were responsible for spreading the truth of Christianity. Ive suggested this tactic before. During the Reformation Christian fanaticism increased between Catholics and the recently formed Protestants. How Can I Respond to Adversity with Faith? - The Church of Jesus Christ What should you do if your friend insults you simply because you are an atheist? [11][12][13], Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian Islamist ideologue and prominent figurehead of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, was influential in promoting the Pan-Islamist ideology in the 1960s. Atheists make up about 3% of the U.S. population; however, within your community, it may seem as if youre alone, particularly if you live in a small town. Its message is, "Yes, youre a wreck and have done real damage. How Religious Fundamentalism Hijacks the Brain Came to believe that Reason, a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Completely devoted to the people or organizations they idolize, these super-fans live their lives with a slavish sense of adoration and allegiance. Truth should be your ultimate goal. You dont want to be blamed for all the evils done by those who rejected religion, do you? [11] Shas believe Al ibn Ab lib is the true successor to Muhammad, while Sunns consider Abu Bakr to hold that position. Thanks for respecting that." Luckily for me this is only a "once on a great while" occurrence. A popular chorus: go cornerback. I shall be focusing only on those with a religious or quasi-religious motivation. They were cleansing this world, God's temple". Make eye contact and focus on what the person is saying. ", Paul Berman, "The Philosopher of Islamic Terror", Out of the Shadows: Getting ahead of prisoner radicalization, "The Evolution of Al-Qaeda: Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi", "BBC - History - British History in depth: The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies", "How Hindu supremacists are tearing India apart". Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 457,250 times. Religious people and faitheistsmy term for nonbelievers who feel that religion is good for society as a wholehave been using a new strategy against atheists. Sought through inquiry, debate, conversation, curiosity, and doubt to improve our conscious contact with Reason seeking for better understanding of the human tension between what we want to believe and whats most likely to be true. 10 pick. The harsh truth about evangelical fanatics is that they are far "fanatical" than they will ever be "Christian.". At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme.Then lead a discussion about the work of salvation and exaltation using one or more of the questions below or questions of your own (see General Handbook, 10.2, 11.2, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). All your friends don't need to be atheists. . Inform the Police, Home Office, and Secret Services that a bearded weirdo is preaching hatred and intolerance at the local Mosque/Church/Synagogue/Temple/Cultist Coven! 5. Not a chance. Let your mother know that, as long as she doesnt say anything hurtful, hateful or scary, she is welcome to expose your children to religion as much or as little as she likes. That was dispositive evidence for the supernaturaluntil Darwin explained it away in 1859 as the result of the purely naturalistic processes of evolution and natural selection. Confront their bullshit by saying how rude their behavior is and if they don't stop, walk away. Try to open your mind, without judgment, to the variability of human perception. Nearly all people who are highly religious say believing in God is essential to their religious identity (96% . These works must include the books of the Four Horsemen: Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens (one would think the faithful would already have read these, but their misunderstandings aboutThe God Delusionlead me to believe otherwise); the complete works of Robert G. Ingersoll; selected readings from Mencken and Bertrand Russell; Christopher Hitchenss The Portable Atheist, selected writings of Hume; Walter Kaufmanns The Faith of a Heretic and Critique of Religion and Philosophy; George Smiths Atheism: The Case Against God, and Herman Philipses superb God in the Age of Science: A Critique of Religious Reason. Second, offer to have a conversation about your beliefs in an attempt to improve mutual understanding. Religious fanatics make frequent judgments on other people who are better off than they are spiritually. Dont worry; the situation is not as bad as Ive made it sound. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. According to them, true Muslims will pursue it by any means necessary, including dissimulation, civil coercion, and the killing of innocents". For example, refrain from asking, Why are Christians so crazy? Youre not only generalizing, but youre backing the person into a corner, as they couldnt possibly begin to answer your question. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Your views are equally right and important. The absolute truths that fanatics latch onto might be religious or political, right-wing or left-wing, Christian or Islamic, libertarian or communist, new age spiritual or old-time religious. "I never mix business and religion. What's needed is an AA-style safe haven for recovering political and religious fanatics, ideologues and absolutists. Counsel Together. In the end, religion, despite centuries of theologizing, hasnt begun to provide credible answers to the goddy puzzles above. [9] Contrary to what Shafer alleges, however, no eyewitness source refers to Crusaders killing native Christians in Jerusalem, and early Eastern Christian sources (Matthew of Edessa, Anna Comnena, Michael the Syrian, etc.) Since Osama bin Laden's fatwa in 1998, jihad has increasingly become an internationally recognized term. Its also called rationality, which comes from the same root as ratio, to compare, discern, evaluate, judging carefully and humbly in our efforts to find the better bets on how to live. Lon- Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. This is one area where keeping your trap shut will reward you in spades. If, on the other hand, we wish to tackle the causes of terrorism, the only conventional means to do this would be to reduce the fear and insecurity resulting from the process of modernity. This is a pioneer research whose main goal is to explore the levels of religious fanaticism with an adult sample of five different religious denominations in Puerto Rico using a pioneer scale entitled Religious Fanaticism Scale (RFS).