how to respond to a religious fanatic

However, stating this perspective bluntly is bound to cause hurt and discord. Why would the Abrahamic God, all-lovingand all-powerful, allow natural evils to tormentand kill people? At first sight, such a fanatic performance seems light years removed from the (only tentatively known) early forms of religion which first appeared as part of the behavioral modernization of Homo sapiens.Neither the late-modern medium of communication used, nor the individualism and dogmatism revealed by the post, seem to have anything to do with the religious system of a hunter-gatherer . More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Thats why its called faith. But thats not always the case. Either the dogma and rhetoric is too thick to see through, or the religious belief has becomes intertwined with out-and-out bigotry. He is the author ofWhy Evolution is TrueandFaith vs. It is completely fair for you to expect the same of the other person. But before you start stacking up emergency supplies in your bio-shelters, realise that terrorists, the hated enemies of the world, are driven by the same instinct as those who hide from them, namely fear. If you no longer feel you get anything good or positive from a certain relationship, then you are within your right to limit visits or stop them altogether. If the person is a friend let them know you value their friendship, but feel uncomfortable by them trying to convert you. What's needed is an AA-style safe haven for recovering political and religious fanatics, ideologues and absolutists. For example, I am feeling attacked right now. Humbling ourselves to it is painful. 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. His eyes sparkled, he flashed a wide grin, and when I finished, he broke into a wheezy smokers laugh and said, Youre a good boy, Josh-ah., In the following years, I managed to alienate a handful of my coworkers I told one guy that his main problem was that he was evil; I strongly insinuated to a couple of others that they were going to hell; and I often yammered on about my faith with little regard for whether my coworkers were even listening. Counsel Together. 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. Steer clear of open-ended or hostile questions that wont move the conversation along. Listen when they respond. For example, respond to the question, What religion are you? with I watch football every Sunday, but my mom says thats not a religion. Approaching religious loved ones adversarially is that part. Welcome to r/atheism, the web's largest atheist forum. I was confused how to handle it, as in my country it's dangerous to speak about it publicly. Thanks for respecting that." was it you did not understand asshole?" Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. A one on one is pointless since they're not going to regain their senses no matter what transpires. Ive suggested this tactic before. Here are 10 common ways Christian fanaticism is obstructing American progress: 1.) flutherother ( 33539) "Great Answer" ( 3 ) Flag as . Naw, Josh-ah. [17] When he was executed by the Egyptian government under the regime of Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ayman al-Zawahiri formed the organization Egyptian Islamic Jihad to replace the government with an Islamic state that would reflect Qutb's ideas for the Islamic revival that he yearned for. Its message is, "Yes, youre a wreck and have done real damage. If you are an atheist, youll come across your share of religious people who are genuinely curious about and respectful of your perspective, even if they completely disagree with it. ", 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". We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Avoid the person and focus on those who accept you for who you are. Fundamentalists do not obsessively focus upon dogma and ritual because God came to them and told them that was His will. It is the normal-functioning man that builds and constructs. Carson. I rest my case. Even politics may be a less contentious topic to bring up. Teaching in a World of Violent Extremism. Fanatics, ideologues, and absolutists are humanitys greatest scourge. 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. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 457,250 times. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Once they have finished their thought, thank them for their time. "Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence. Otherwise, youll come across as aggressive, which will likely lead to conflict. What I do is, I tell them that people believe different things, and that I wouldn't try to force my believes on them, and ask them to respect me as I respect them. This is my go-to response when people ask me incredibly invasive and personal questions. This is not to say that all or even most of the men and women in the anti-abortion movement are sadists or religious fanatics. [19] Moreover, Qutb's books have been frequently been cited by Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.[20][21][22][23][24][25]. This will help to diffuse a potentially bad situation. But I also realized that we can turn the tables on these people. You dont have to convert to their religion or share their beliefs, but you will certainly learn something new. Dont bother trying to reason with them. The argument-from-gaps depends, of course, on the claim that science will never be able to explain these things, but that makes the argument vulnerable to unforeseen advances. Psychiatry professor Dr. Harold Koenig, from the Medical Center in Dukes University, North Carolina, studies the . Fanaticism and Conflict in the Modern Age. 7. 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. Perhaps some day well know the answers. For that is precisely the answer they wont accept about the scientific puzzles, like the oft-touted mystery of consciousness that they use as evidence for God. Give your child a preview of what they might hear from relatives or friends at school. And it worked! If you are dealing with someone who is persistent in wanting to discuss religion, say something like "I understand that you see your beliefs as the truth, but I feel the same way about mine.". No wonder so many of us fall off the wagon. Fanaticism is a drug. Add a rough, torn, camouflage jacket with no insignia. Here are a few religiousgaps: Now its no use for believers to respond, God is mysterious. Consider the audience, and bring up topics that are likely to be of general interest. Why is God in the Old Testament such a narcissistic bully, toying with people for his amusement, ordering genocides in which innocent women and children are killed. Keep your children indoors and out of harms way! Like good debaters, they aim to put us on the defensive, insisting that we deal with this or that Deep Theological Book (the latest must-read is David Bentley Harts The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss), or we answer this or that argument, or we read every sophisticated theologian in the history of Christianity. Or, if youre sufficiently sophisticated to see God not as a bearded spirit but as The Ground of All Being, why isnt that Ground obvious to everyone? Let them know youre ending the conversation. Fanaticism definition, fanatical character, spirit, or conduct. And, as always, love and levity go along way. "Thanks for your concern, but I'm good.". If youve been going back and forth, put an end to the conversation, at least for the time being. To my own surprise, I eventually started hanging out with Uncle John at his apartment and no, he didnt invite the girls over to teach me anything. Genocide or Jesus: A God of Conquest or Pacifism? It makes them feel good. Why are we non-theists so outraged, indignant and disgusted when we learn new things about religion? Fear is a lack of faith. So what hope is there? You in turn can invite them to a gathering of others like you. And, since modern humans originated over 100,000 years ago, why did God wait 98,000 years before sending his son to redress our sinsand then to only a small portion of humanity within a hundred miles of Jerusalem? Religious fanaticism is defined by blind faith, the persecution of dissents and the absence of reality We probably all know a few fanatical fansof sports teams, pop stars or film and TV actors. 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. (As if they would anyway!) I once told someone I was a Cathode Follower. In the end, religion, despite centuries of theologizing, hasnt begun to provide credible answers to the goddy puzzles above. If 3 or 4 nice ways of saying no don't work, then pull out all the stops. Join us. [8], Shafer adds that, "When the crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they killed Muslims, Jews, and native Christians indiscriminately". We either watched college football or just made conversation. Just be sure you think it through first, and that youve tried your best to make things work. ), By my shamelessly crude guesstimate, assuming no more than half the world is religious to start with, we only have to deal with, at most, three-hundred-and-twenty-five-million hardcore psychopaths prone to bomb-planting and plane hijacking, spread across the whole world. Thats unconscionable. We all have to sometimes listen to people talk about subjects we dont care for or dont understand hockey, poetry, auto repair, or whatever it may be. 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 . Last Updated: January 12, 2023 If you think of another point youd like to make, dont put yourself back into a bad situation. Why, if God so ardently wants us to know and accept him, does he hide himself from humanity? If someone is clearly very intolerant of atheism and will not stop criticizing your beliefs, then a rational discussion with them is probably not worth pursuing. By using our site, you agree to our. make no such allegation about the Crusaders in Jerusalem. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. what everybody else said, and if that doesn't work you can use my line next. But we can play the Gap Game, too. Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. Good point. Now I never thought of it like that, he said. In the religious context, jihad most nearly means "working urgently for a certain godly objective, generally an imperialist one". Bin Laden's concept, though, is very different from the actual meaning of the term. Im lucky to have a supportive family. 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. For example, if your religious friends start to discuss their church activities try saying, Thats great youre so involved in your church. Lets move on. But if youre going to end up feeling frustrated or angry or thinking less of the person youre debating, then leave it. ", "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? We want so much to encourage our children to have open, meaningful relationships with our loved ones, but we worry our kids will be pressured to believe things that arent true, or may even be harmful. How should a Christian respond to persecution? Then set the X number kind of high. No matter what I said to him, he would warmly smile with that twinkle in his eye and say, Youre a good boy, Josh-ah.. How To Respond To A Religious Fanatic The greater the numerical magnitude, the greater the level of religious fanaticism of the person. Who is Bill Gothard and what is the Institute in Basic Life Principles? He asks me why and I say that it's just what I believe(I wasn't looking to get ino a discussion about it. [11] The original schism between Kharijites, Sunns, and Shas among Muslims was disputed over the political and religious succession to the guidance of the Muslim community (Ummah) after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". If people were free to blow themselves up all over the place, society just would not be able to function. Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. For more tips, such as how to define what atheism means to you, read on! Children may go to church every Sunday with their grandparents, but theyll still look to their parents for true religious guidance. % of people told us that this article helped them. People like that owe you nothing. Why didnt Jesus return during his followers lifetime, as he promised? Bin Laden may not have looked like an anti-globalisation campaigner, but he shared with them a concern about the effects of unbridled capitalism. Its not your fault, but it is your responsibility to kick it. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Since you know what to expect, you should prepare a short list of rules that YOU must follow. assets of fanaticism, yet it may be doubted if the fanatic type of mind ever could do more than agitate. Avoid debate (especially when liquor is involved). The result can be found in almost every corner of the globe. Knock it off. 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. Fanatical Christian activity continued into the Middle Ages with the Crusades. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! It usually takes around 15-20 minutes to respond. Dont Panic! If they havent steeped themselves extensively in the honorable tradition of secularism, then they have no credibility as believers. Ill tell you what Ill get a couple of girls to meet up with you at my apartment, and they can really show you a thing or two., Before he could describe the thing or two they were going to show me, I launched into a fiery sermon, setting him straight and letting him know where I stood in my quest for purity. Since Osama bin Laden's fatwa in 1998, jihad has increasingly become an internationally recognized term. What other activities do you enjoy doing outside of church? We all have different sensory capabilities and process information differently. [7] In fact, its not the beard that drives people to kill at all (ignoring any link to testosterone). www.subud.org - Official website of the World Subud Association. I have no idea why that didn't even cross my mind. I live in Brazil and most people here are religious, but like, REALLY religious. Having religious friends needn't be an issue if you both are respectful when religion comes up. From her parents Maria Theresa inherited not only their noble blood, but also a heart sensitive for the needy. Before you point out how ridiculous this calculation is, realise it is only here to entertain.). 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. Do you believe Hes strong enough to carry you into the end zone? I asked. 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. People cant possible believe this stuff, we nonreligious types say. Encourage your children to listen and be respectful and that they have plenty of time to make up their own minds. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of Reason. You may want to say, Im looking forward to talking with you about atheism. Jerry A. Coyne is a professor of Ecology and Evolution at The University of Chicago. This article was co-authored by Mary Church, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. A less immediate danger might be anarchists with weird apocalyptic beliefs building up stores of weapons and ammunition in the Southern United States or in South Africa. I just felt so surprised/ambushed by it that I had no time to react or think of how to react. Some of us are facing relatives who are heartbroken about our lack of faith incredulous, fearful, maybe even angry. Something happened to me the other day that made me feel pretty uncomfortable and I felt like I had no idea how to respond. Youre not going to convince someone otherwise in one conversation. 1 Don't bring up the subject unnecessarily. This is the root cause of religious fanaticism. When we pick up the Bible or the Quran or the Book of Mormon, for example, and actually read some of whats in there? Fanatics are determined to go to any length to prevent women the right to choose, to the point of embracing the unethical Machiavellian practice of the ends justifying the means, as the new Arizona law illustrates. Its hard to kick a drug if sobriety means admitting that youre a vile person through and through. Lutheran, Baptist), and . T. With the Draft a month and a half away, many fans are zeroing in on ideal targets with the No. Im saving myself for marriage, I said, showing him my purity ring. This post originally appeared in February 2012. His peers in Christian rap are responding . "From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.". These 14 items were selected after the evaluation of items [6]. You are not alone. [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. Before we start, why dont you tell me what you know about it., If they dont know anything about atheism, or assume that it means you believe in nothing or are satanic in some way, dont criticize them for it. At the end of the day, we all look at the same moon. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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. he Eagles hold the No. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. Rather, they fear God, and not in a "good" way. If they insist on continuing, tell them you didn't realize that they were going to insist on talking about religion, excuse yourself, and walk out. But religious people arent concerned about that. Thomas Farr, in an essay titled Islam's Way to Freedom, states that "Even though most Muslims reject violence, the extremists' use of sacred texts lends their actions authenticity and recruiting power". But we also have another ace in the hole: Make atheism-of-the-gaps arguments. Second, offer to have a conversation about your beliefs in an attempt to improve mutual understanding. So what can be done? In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. 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. The sad fact is that some relationships are not strong enough and never were to withstand the divide caused by religious differences. away from religious beliefs. Official Catholic doctrine, for instance, is that unconfessed homosexual acts doomyou eternal immolation in molten sulfur. If the person shows up at your door, dont just slam it in their face. Those judgments are not founded on truth or made by the Holy Spirit because most of them don't have the Holy Spirit to help them know the truth. They fear their thoughts, their doubts, and above all they fear they have been rejected by both society and God. First of all, dont panic! Fanatics drive through life like alcoholics driving under the influence. If that doesn't help, I just leave them talking to themselves. I'm glad that you agree that this was, perhaps, the optimum behavior. References. Take this seriously. The human body is not designed to withstand the constant emotional stress and narrow-mindedness that fanatical extremism requires. Do you honestly think your relatives religious views are going to succeed in indoctrinating your child. 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. I did end up pretty much leaving in the middle of his preaching just to end it. For parents, this is an area that weighs especially heavily. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In my opinion, the best way to deal with religious fanatics is to give them enough rope and let them hang themselves. Finally, if the person refuses to stop insulting you or to attempt to understand your perspective better, reassess the friendship. [citation needed]. According to them, true Muslims will pursue it by any means necessary, including dissimulation, civil coercion, and the killing of innocents". [18] The Qutbist ideology has been influential on jihadist movements and Islamic terrorists that seek to overthrow secular governments, most notably Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri of al-Qaeda,[14][15][16] as well as the Salafi-jihadi terrorist group ISIL/ISIS/IS/Daesh. Although the Christian Bible quite plainly repeatedly encourages followers to help the needy and poor, many fanatical Christians seemed to have overlooked their book's message on this subject and have instead chosen to label . Weve learned though, that treating alcoholics as criminals doesnt help us or them. Legendary Christian hip-hop artist Brady "Phanatik" Goodwin, one of the founders of the trailblazing rap group The Cross Movement, announced last week that he is no longer a Christian and no longer believes the Bible. Confront their bullshit by saying how rude their behavior is and if they don't stop, walk away. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Deal-with-Religious-People-if-You-Are-an-Atheist-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Deal-with-Religious-People-if-You-Are-an-Atheist-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Deal-with-Religious-People-if-You-Are-an-Atheist-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/aid84557-v4-728px-Deal-with-Religious-People-if-You-Are-an-Atheist-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"