how to respond to a religious fanatic

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. The third level is even worse than the second. In fact, its not the beard that drives people to kill at all (ignoring any link to testosterone). | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples But in the midst of all that stress and condemnation, Uncle John offered a respite, a shelter from the angry, condemning god I had fashioned in my own judgmental image. I shall be focusing only on those with a religious or quasi-religious motivation. 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. First, let the person know that his/her words or actions are hurtful, and that your beliefs are very personal and important to you. 10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to Howie Roseman's deft trading skills, and now the Birds have to figure out how best to use that valuable draft capital. His tangent has taken away his joy of walking with Jesus, as well as the joy of fellowship with others in the body of Christ. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. I was confused how to handle it, as in my country it's dangerous to speak about it publicly. Avoid the person and focus on those who accept you for who you are. But I never felt like I made much progress until one memorable phone conversation towards the end of his life. [7] And our own tacticis far superior to God-of-the-gaps arguments, since the gaps in science grow smaller as we learn more (neuroscience is one example). 6 yr. ago 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. ". I just wanted to continue about my business for the day). I just felt so surprised/ambushed by it that I had no time to react or think of how to react. Although fanatic jihadists have committed many terroristic acts throughout the world, perhaps the best known is the September 11 attacks. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 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. When was the last time you changed someones religion by arguing a point really well? Even if you're an atheist, it doesn't mean that you can't have good discussions with a religious person. ", "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? Even politics may be a less contentious topic to bring up. All your friends don't need to be atheists. These 14 items were selected after the evaluation of items [6]. I'm glad that you agree that this was, perhaps, the optimum behavior. People's views become extreme when they feel they are being treated unfairly. Be self-effacing. How To Respond To A Religious Fanatic 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 . We all have different sensory capabilities and process information differently. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. Give them an opportunity to speak. Take this seriously. Long story short I got out of there as quickly as I could. 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". 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. Theres nothing wrong with sitting quietly sometimes, and it never hurts to listen to others talk about what they believe. More to follow. Talk to your employer about it. However, you also don't need to be a walking advertisement for atheism at all times either. For example, respond to the question, What religion are you? with I watch football every Sunday, but my mom says thats not a religion. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This will help to diffuse a potentially bad situation. The most obvious might be the feared Al-Qaida terrorists and Taliban militiamen tramping around Central Asia. I used to do this when I travelled long distances with my toddler. 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. But religious people arent concerned about that. Tell them to go suck a bag of dicks but, you know, more nicely. How can we deal with people whose unkempt facial hair drives them to acts of such murderous brutality that, except on Sunday mornings, most normal people can scarcely imagine? You should never allow yourself to be pressured into talking about anything you don't feel comfortable talking about. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Okay, so youve been disrespected, condescended to, verbally attacked or even threatened. 1) Never, never, never, never, never, argue in an attempt to disprove 7. Ive suggested this tactic before. Like so many of us, you became host to a powerful parasite that mutates quickly and has taken over minds throughout human history. And so they proceed to blame everyone and everything else in the world, save themselves. No one wants to expose kids to the family tension, or say something that will make the the tension even worse. Give your child a preview of what they might hear from relatives or friends at school. You need to understand why they have chosen to radicalize their parishioners. He is the author ofWhy Evolution is TrueandFaith vs. This article was co-authored by Mary Church, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Many Christians were killed for having rival viewpoints. 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. This is exactly what I should have done. Sprinkle a couple of ammunition belts hanging from both shoulders. Over time, I grew to love Uncle John so much that I found it easy to see how God could love him, and I made a point to try to get that across to him. Once they have finished their thought, thank them for their time. All we can do is rest in His arms and let Him carry us into the end zone.. After all, if youre attacking atheism, you must attack it in its strongest forms. Give a measured, calm response, or none at all if you so choose. Try promising yourself you wont get annoyed until you hear X number of religious remarks or stories. The greatest gap that ever adduced God was our inability to explain the presence of all the Earths species, and why they seemed so marvelously adapted to their environments. M. Hughes, G. Johnson (eds.). [8], Shafer adds that, "When the crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they killed Muslims, Jews, and native Christians indiscriminately". Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? If youre in a room full of believers, think carefully before steering the conversation towards your lack of belief. I have no idea why that didn't even cross my mind. Learn More. Listen when they respond. 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". 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. Consider the audience, and bring up topics that are likely to be of general interest. According to Steffen, there are portions of the Quran where military jihad is used. Walk away and give yourself some time to cool down. There are huge gaps in believers understanding of God, and in those lacunae, I claim, lies strong evidence for No God. But we also have another ace in the hole: Make atheism-of-the-gaps arguments. Before you begin the conversation, ask if the person understands what an atheist is. I tell him I'm an atheist. Your views are equally right and important. Well, youre that football, Uncle John, and Hes the quarterback. Its message is, "Yes, youre a wreck and have done real damage. Making our society less materialistic, reducing poverty and the commercialisation of sex, would give fanatics less of a reason to hate the West, as well as being very desirable policies for their own sake. Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. Humbly invoked reason to remove our shortcomings. [11] From their essentially political position, the Kharijites developed extreme doctrines that set them apart from both mainstream Sunn and Sha Muslims. Unless you can deliver to them the contact with the Holy Spirit/Great Life Force/Power of Almighty God that they so desire, against their will (for they will deny their isolation from it), you will not be able to convince them. And deep inside, I was relieved to know that I actually believed it too. Make believers read about nonbelief before youll listen to them. 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. "I recently spent a number of meal times with my wife's (religious) family. Fanatics always act zealously. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This is the article for you. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of Reason. Its not what they believe that makes them fanatics but how they believe it that they have the final word, no need to consider further evidence, and no need to ever wonder or doubt themselves again. . Thanks for respecting that." Lutheran, Baptist), and . Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 457,250 times. Naw, Josh-ah. Tell them its okay to believe in God or not believe in God, and that people have lots of different ideas about how the universe was made and what happens after we die. See that big chip on your shoulder? A one on one is pointless since they're not going to regain their senses no matter what transpires. The look is shared by all sorts of murderous but non-fanatical rebels, mercenaries, and government-sponsored militias across Latin America, Asia and Africa. The greater the numerical magnitude, the greater the level of religious fanaticism of the person. Ergo, there remains good evidence for atheism in the yawning gaps of religious understanding. I am thankful that we can all be together now to enjoy it, and each others company.. Last Updated: January 12, 2023 Most of all, they blame the United States of America. Add a rough, torn, camouflage jacket with no insignia. 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. 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. The minimum score of the scale is 14 points and the maximum score is 56 points. Send an email or ask if you can discuss the topic with the person at a later time. A believer in religion may be open and liberal and an,other Fanaticism Quotes. In other words, fanaticism is not religious but a psychological category. You should never feel like you have to lie or pretend about what you believe (or don't). Make eye contact and focus on what the person is saying. And when they cant (or shouldnt be) avoided, a thoughtful and respectful approach can help prevent a contentious situation. My personal answer has been a blending of spiritual, non-religious practices with practical medical advice and application. Just sit it out and wait for the subject to change. (For semantic precision by "fundamentalist" I mean a person favouring strict observance of their own religious doctrine to the exclusion of all other sources of moral guidance. In the religious context, jihad most nearly means "working urgently for a certain godly objective, generally an imperialist one". The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. On their way to conquering the Holy Land from the Muslims by force of arms, the crusaders destroyed dozens of Jewish communities and killed thousands because the Jews would not accept the Christian faith. We admitted we were powerless over fanaticismthat our lives had become unmanageable. 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. Deeper Division of the classes. Many atheists find belief in a supernatural deity to be irrational. The eldest of seven children, Mary Theresa Ledochowska was born in Austria on April 29, 1863, to a Polish noble, Count Anthony, and his wife, Josephine. They ask what that is and I say, look it up. 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? I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. No one is exempt from the risk. "I am an atheist for a long time now, as I was exposed more and more to scientific works, the more I was getting. Rather than maintaining a balanced approach to Scripture and discipleship, he has gone off on a mental tangent and it has caused him to become restless in his heart and mind. Grace was said at the start of some, "Praying in public. 'Fanatic' is derived from a Latin word that described possession by a god or demon. Weve learned though, that treating alcoholics as criminals doesnt help us or them. All topics related to atheism, agnosticism and secular living are welcome here. All content copyright original author unless stated otherwise. "There were a lot of gods. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. A popular chorus: go cornerback. An atheist should be someone who is open to asking questions and seeking answers. 7 Ticking Time Bombs That Destroy Loving Relationships, The Single Best (and Hardest) Thing to Give Up, 3 Ways to Reclaim Your Hope and Happiness. ", 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. And as I listened, I gradually learned that Uncle John was a man of many sorrows, one with a broken life history, a man who was afraid God could never forgive him for all the ways he had failed. Giving family members a chance to right their wrongs and correct their offensive behavior is a must if you are to feel good about your decision down the road. What other activities do you enjoy doing outside of church? Here are 10 common ways Christian fanaticism is obstructing American progress: 1.) If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Such zealousness may result in severe problems for humanity at large. [26] The word jihad in Arabic means 'struggle'. ", 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". If youve been going back and forth, put an end to the conversation, at least for the time being. 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. I just felt attacked about something that was completely unprovoked (I didn't have anything on me or my car showing what I believe in) and I just wasn't sure how I should have handled the situation or how I should have reacted. The Haynals write: "The dictionary defines a fanatic as someone with excessive and single minded zeal. It's not what they believe that makes them fanatics but how they believe it that they have the final word, no need to consider further evidence, and no need to ever wonder or doubt themselves. Even my religious family members respect and accept me for who I am. 1. Only Jesus can do that. But these are all long-term strategies. Some people have such strong beliefs that they try very hard to convince others that their way is the right and only way. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. Humbling ourselves to it is painful. I rest my case. 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. 7. 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). When he first brought up Jeebus I would have said, "I don't like talking about such a private matter as religion. And, as always, love and levity go along way. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. But don't beat yourself up over it. www.subud.org - Official website of the World Subud Association. In contrast, the gaps in theism never narrow. Because religion is often irrational, arguing about religion is usually pretty pointless. Christian rappers responded to Brady Goodwin renouncing his faith in January 2022. Who is Bill Gothard and what is the Institute in Basic Life Principles? [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. Instead, quickly provide them with some basic information about atheism. Let them know youre ending the conversation. References. Magic phrase: "That's not my belief system". Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. (Freedom 24), According to certain observers this disregard for others and rampant use of violence is markedly different from the peaceful message that jihad is meant to employ. flutherother ( 33539) "Great Answer" ( 3 ) Flag as . CWOTUS ( 26102) "Great Answer" ( 3 ) Flag as . 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. And if a persons interests center on his or her religion, then allowing them to talk about his or her religion is a really nice thing. I once told someone I was a Cathode Follower. Fanaticism definition, fanatical character, spirit, or conduct. People cant possible believe this stuff, we nonreligious types say. Fanatics are driven by perpetual fear and emotional suppression. Otherwise, youll come across as aggressive, which will likely lead to conflict. He seemed very intent in having me at the very least take a bible with me. Shed no longer have to sneak around you (as much), or feel (as) resentful, or worry (as intensely) that youre dragging your child to hell. It is more widely appreciated in religions today that an actual contact with God's power is the true source of good behaviour. "From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.". 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.. [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. Bin Laden's concept, though, is very different from the actual meaning of the term. The majority of religious people are not fundamentalist; the majority of fundamentalists are not fanatics; the majority of fanatics are not terrorists. They kill innocent bystanders, sometimes by the thousands or millions. I tried to see it as an opportunity to spread the good news. According to them, true Muslims will pursue it by any means necessary, including dissimulation, civil coercion, and the killing of innocents". Be honest, especially since it is a relative. 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. Whether theyre the leaders or the followers, fanatics are people who indulge in a heady, intoxicating, and toxic concoction of self-affirming, know-it-all confidence that they have unique access to absolute truths, truths so perfect that they have to impose them on everyone. Remember, you dont have to defend your point of view to anyone. 7 Tips for Dealing with Religious Relatives. Press J to jump to the feed. This post originally appeared in February 2012. Let's keep this to the business at hand.". Luckily for me this is only a "once on a great while" occurrence. Grant Shafer says, "Jesus of Nazareth is best known as a preacher of nonviolence".[5]. 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.. 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. How Psychologically Conditioned Rats Are Defusing Landmines, The Innate Intelligence Observed in the Dying Process. Now I never thought of it like that, he said. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Being a know-it-all provides such powerful pain relief. There is something about a group of people connecting with their spirituality in unison that causes an electric response. They think theyre perfectly fine driving. Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Fundamentalists do not obsessively focus upon dogma and ritual because God came to them and told them that was His will. If God works in mysterious ways, every single supernatural and incongruous event in religious history can be justified. Followed if needed by, "We're not allowed to talk about it". If that doesn't help, I just leave them talking to themselves. If the UN can't define a terrorist, then I will not even try. 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. Nearly all people who are highly religious say believing in God is essential to their religious identity (96% . As always, there is a balance to be struck. Thats unconscionable. Understand that rational has nothing to do with it. If someone else starts talking about religion, change the subject. The Inquisition was the monarchy's way of making sure their people stayed within Catholic Christianity. Youre not going to convince someone otherwise in one conversation. Keep your children indoors and out of harms way! Remember, everyone, regardless of their beliefs, assumes they are right. The human body is not designed to withstand the constant emotional stress and narrow-mindedness that fanatical extremism requires. My relaxed attitude made all the difference, and the trips always exceeded by expectations. 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. NFL DRAFT. Shaming the addict can make him dig in his heels. No amount of polite declining is going to make them stop, no rebuttal will make them change their mind and give up religion. Some of us are facing relatives who are heartbroken about our lack of faith incredulous, fearful, maybe even angry. During the Reformation Christian fanaticism increased between Catholics and the recently formed Protestants. They were cleansing this world, God's temple". See more. I paused for quite a while to be sure of my words. In the end, religion, despite centuries of theologizing, hasnt begun to provide credible answers to the goddy puzzles above. Admitted to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. "I never mix business and religion. Teaching in a World of Violent Extremism. Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church.

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