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. | She completed a Post-Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The University of Hawaii at Manoa. Be thoughtful and respectful. You don't 'handle it'; You walk away. All rights reserved. Dr. Mary Church is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. You dont have to convert to their religion or share their beliefs, but you will certainly learn something new. 15 Colas 1997, p. xix. Confront their bullshit by saying how rude their behavior is and if they don't stop, walk away. 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. Remember that there's potential for acceptance, and celebration of these differences, because they're all important. Remember, you dont have to defend your point of view to anyone. Answer Fanaticism is typically defined as "excessive, irrational zeal." Fanaticism can develop within a variety of different traditions, but this does not mean these traditions are in their very nature fanatical. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Who is Bill Gothard and what is the Institute in Basic Life Principles? How can we protect ourselves from these lost souls? If he insists, walk away. Long story short I got out of there as quickly as I could. In addition, Dr. Church is a member of the American Evaluation Association and Hawaii-Pacific Evaluation Association. gives several features which are associated with religious fanaticism or extremism: Ever since Christianity was established, some of those in authority have sought to expand and control the church, often through the fanatical use of force. 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 . For example, if your religious friends start to discuss their church activities try saying, Thats great youre so involved in your church. Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. If the person shows up at your door, dont just slam it in their face. Since you know what to expect, you should prepare a short list of rules that YOU must follow. 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. If the person invites you to a religious service, agree to go as a respectful observer. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Truth should be your ultimate goal. Atheists Could Learn a Lot from Religious People About How to Win Debates, read every sophisticated theologian in the history of Christianity, God in the Age of Science: A Critique of Religious Reason, Faith vs. Genocide or Jesus: A God of Conquest or Pacifism? Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". 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. Learn More. Allow others the opportunity to speak. You need to understand why they have chosen to radicalize their parishioners. Press J to jump to the feed. In the religious context, jihad most nearly means "working urgently for a certain godly objective, generally an imperialist one". Fanaticism definition, fanatical character, spirit, or conduct. Sustained reason is just the hard work that addiction to fanaticism frees us from. Admittedly, this is a problem. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. "From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.". Do you honestly think your relatives religious views are going to succeed in indoctrinating your child. Religionists often float God-of-the-gaps arguments, saying that evidence for God lies in the intersticesof our scientific understanding. what everybody else said, and if that doesn't work you can use my line next. People love to talk about themselves. Psychiatry professor Dr. Harold Koenig, from the Medical Center in Dukes University, North Carolina, studies the . Being a know-it-all provides such powerful pain relief. In a situation like that I sometimes say that I am a Pantheist. Finally, if the person refuses to stop insulting you or to attempt to understand your perspective better, reassess the friendship. If they experienced a contact with God, they would not need Holy Books or any teacher to know the difference between right and wrong. T. With the Draft a month and a half away, many fans are zeroing in on ideal targets with the No. Ongoing thats how science practices reason. Even my religious family members respect and accept me for who I am. If you have an especially vocal family, and find yourself getting stressed out easily, you may need to lower your expectations a bit. With over a decade of clinical experience, she aims to integrate evolution, genetics, and neuroscience within the practice of psychotherapy. You know that God loves you no matter what youve done, right? I asked. Not only does 'jihad' not endorse acts of military aggression, but 'jihad' is invoked in Qur'anic passages to indicate how uses of force are always subject to restraint and qualification". He is the author ofWhy Evolution is TrueandFaith vs. Many atheists find belief in a supernatural deity to be irrational. 16 Bryan, D. Fanatics, Mobs and Terrorists: The Dynamics of Orange Parades in Northern Ireland. It must be pointed out that fanaticism is not related to religion; it is related t6 human psychological type. "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.". Before you point out how ridiculous this calculation is, realise it is only here to entertain.). It will almost never change minds. This is where the reality of what they seek comes in, and the unconventional means of tackling the worlds problems. 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. "I am an atheist for a long time now, as I was exposed more and more to scientific works, the more I was getting. make no such allegation about the Crusaders in Jerusalem. Selengut, Charles. But bad things arent going to keep us out of Heaven, and good things wont get us in. Just be sure you think it through first, and that youve tried your best to make things work. % of people told us that this article helped them. This will help to diffuse a potentially bad situation. 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. Why, if God so ardently wants us to know and accept him, does he hide himself from humanity? (As if they would anyway!) And when they cant (or shouldnt be) avoided, a thoughtful and respectful approach can help prevent a contentious situation. During the Reformation Christian fanaticism increased between Catholics and the recently formed Protestants. 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! I believe He can, Josh-ah, he said. If 3 or 4 nice ways of saying no don't work, then pull out all the stops. Instead, quickly provide them with some basic information about atheism. How do I respond if a relative asks if I have accepted Jesus as my personal savior? Make jokes. We all have different sensory capabilities and process information differently. In my opinion, the best way to deal with religious fanatics is to give them enough rope and let them hang themselves. Add a rough, torn, camouflage jacket with no insignia. away from religious beliefs. 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". 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. The best way to deal with religious people as an atheist is to avoid the subject of religion, so try not to bring it up whenever possible. 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. Its hard to kick a drug if sobriety means admitting that youre a vile person through and through. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. No wonder fanaticism is so intoxicating. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. According to Steffen, there are portions of the Quran where military jihad is used. However, stating this perspective bluntly is bound to cause hurt and discord. Fanatics, ideologues, and absolutists are humanitys greatest scourge. They fear their thoughts, their doubts, and above all they fear they have been rejected by both society and God. As always, there is a balance to be struck. Reason is a much harder master than god. M. Hughes, G. Johnson (eds.). 1) Never, never, never, never, never, argue in an attempt to disprove Avoid debate (especially when liquor is involved). I wrote this as an article for a university magazine, which can be found at www.thescript.net, and thought it would fit well as an entry here. People like that owe you nothing. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. The most frequently cited gaps are the sciencess failure to provide complete explanations of consciousness, morality, our sense of beauty, and why there is something in the universe instead of nothing. 'Fanatic' is derived from a Latin word that described possession by a god or demon. Charles Selengut, in his book Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence, said: The Crusades were very much holy wars waged to maintain Christianity's theological and social control. No wonder so many of us fall off the wagon. Essentially, I was terrified that I really wasnt a good boy and that He really wasnt a good God. 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. Once they have finished their thought, thank them for their time. If youre in a room full of believers, think carefully before steering the conversation towards your lack of belief. Well, youre that football, Uncle John, and Hes the quarterback. 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. Keep your children indoors and out of harms way! I respect your opinion and I hope you can respect mine, but I think we should agree to disagree. Dont bring up the subject again unless there is new information to cover. Im saving myself for marriage, I said, showing him my purity ring. Why would the Abrahamic God, all-lovingand all-powerful, allow natural evils to tormentand kill people? I rest my case. ", How to Deal with Religious People if You Are an Atheist, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/jesus-is-ruining-my-love-life-is-religion-a-deal-breaker/252268/, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/, http://americanhumanist.org/What_We_Do/Local_Groups, http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/effective-communication.htm, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cui-bono/201211/are-i-statements-better-you-statements, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between-you-and-me/201406/5-tips-avoiding-conflict-in-your-relationship, https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/how-talk-about-your-religious-beliefs-without-being-jerk/, https://newrepublic.com/article/117474/arguing-religious-people-turn-their-techniques-around, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mr-personality/201312/why-are-religious-people-generally-less-intelligent, Confrontarsi con Persone Religiose da Ateo. 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. Think about how touched your mom would be if you invited her to tell your children about her faith. Its easier to kick it if you declare that youve become host to a virulent disease that can attack any of us. They were cleansing this world, God's temple". I was confused how to handle it, as in my country it's dangerous to speak about it publicly. If people were free to blow themselves up all over the place, society just would not be able to function. Together we can lick this thing.". Understand that rational has nothing to do with it. The minimum score of the scale is 14 points and the maximum score is 56 points. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. Humbly invoked reason to remove our shortcomings. If the person is a friend let them know you value their friendship, but feel uncomfortable by them trying to convert you. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. From her parents Maria Theresa inherited not only their noble blood, but also a heart sensitive for the needy. Josh, you need to get some experience in bed, said John, a 72-year-old ladies man who worked with me at the clinic where we were both couriers. Ive suggested this tactic before. 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. If you find it fun to discuss or debate religious beliefs, and can do so respectfully, then have at it. You may want to say, Im looking forward to talking with you about atheism. So I propose that, when debating the religious, nonbelievers start using two tu quoque arguments. ", meals. [8], Shafer adds that, "When the crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they killed Muslims, Jews, and native Christians indiscriminately". You could just say your beliefs are personal, you don't feel comfortable talking about them, and change this subject back to whatever you were there for. Then he starts pressuring me about looking into Christianity and if I would take a bible with me (he was a youth minister so he had a few with him). At the end of the day, we all look at the same moon. And if people can fault us for not reading Aquinas, Augustine, Origen, Tertullian, and modern theologians like Hart and Alvin Plantinga, well, then, why not ask something similar of them? 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. Historically, the term was applied in Christian antiquity to denigrate non-Christian religions, and subsequently acquired its current usage with the Age of Enlightenment.[1]. When speaking about fanaticism it is necessary to mention the Urelative of the term fandom that has been used primarily in the sphere of entertainment. But we also have another ace in the hole: Make atheism-of-the-gaps arguments. You should never feel like you have to lie or pretend about what you believe (or don't). I just wanted to continue about my business for the day). The human body is not designed to withstand the constant emotional stress and narrow-mindedness that fanatical extremism requires. 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.
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