how to respond to a religious fanatic

But thats not always the case. Enjoy! They fear their thoughts, their doubts, and above all they fear they have been rejected by both society and God. If you're asked about your religious beliefs, be honest. Well, youre that football, Uncle John, and Hes the quarterback. Knock it off. 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. There are huge gaps in believers understanding of God, and in those lacunae, I claim, lies strong evidence for No God. More probably, you will make them more suspicious that you are in league with the Great Satan. It will almost never change minds. 'Fanatic' is derived from a Latin word that described possession by a god or demon. This post originally appeared in February 2012. You may want to say, Im looking forward to talking with you about atheism. Second, offer to have a conversation about your beliefs in an attempt to improve mutual understanding. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 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. Social media plane spotters suggested it may have been a fighter jet responding to an emergency call by a Air Ambulance calling for a medical evacuation. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. Lets move on. 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. "Thanks for your concern, but I'm good.". The greater the numerical magnitude, the greater the level of religious fanaticism of the person. The Inquisition was the monarchy's way of making sure their people stayed within Catholic Christianity. All content copyright original author unless stated otherwise. PostedNovember 4, 2014 The investigators had to invent all sorts of techniques, including torture, to ascertain whether new converts' beliefs were genuine.[10]. If they havent steeped themselves extensively in the honorable tradition of secularism, then they have no credibility as believers. The minimum score of the scale is 14 points and the maximum score is 56 points. An atheist should be someone who is open to asking questions and seeking answers. First, let the person know that his/her words or actions are hurtful, and that your beliefs are very personal and important to you. Fanatics are driven by perpetual fear and emotional suppression. Luckily for me this is only a "once on a great while" occurrence. 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. I tell him I'm an atheist. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. If necessary, provide some source recommendations for the other person to consult and request that you resume the conversation at another time. Long story short I got out of there as quickly as I could. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Its easier to kick it if you declare that youve become host to a virulent disease that can attack any of us. ), 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. 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. There is something about a group of people connecting with their spirituality in unison that causes an electric response. In addition, Dr. Church is a member of the American Evaluation Association and Hawaii-Pacific Evaluation Association. Just sit it out and wait for the subject to change. Nearly all people who are highly religious say believing in God is essential to their religious identity (96% . 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. She completed a Post-Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The University of Hawaii at Manoa. flutherother ( 33539) "Great Answer" ( 3 ) Flag as . These 14 items were selected after the evaluation of items [6]. Essentially, I was terrified that I really wasnt a good boy and that He really wasnt a good God. How To Respond To A Religious Fanatic [19] Moreover, Qutb's books have been frequently been cited by Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.[20][21][22][23][24][25]. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. How do any believers know for sure that their faith is the right one, especially given the presumed penalty for guessing wrong. 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. Why didnt Jesus return during his followers lifetime, as he promised? Selengut, Charles. If, for instance, you are at Thanksgiving dinner and are asked to give some sort of blessing or say what you are thankful for, you can do so without invoking any god or religion. So stop worrying so much. 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. Looking back, I suppose the most remarkable thing about those conversations was how little I talked about Jesus not because I was avoiding the topic, but because for once in my young adult life, I was listening. 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. They may have local get-togethers or events. The start of Christian fanatic rule came with the Roman Emperor Constantine I. Ellens says, "When Christianity came to power in the empire of Constantine, it proceeded to almost viciously repress all non-Christians and all Christians who did not line up with official Orthodox ideology, policy, and practice". [29] In modern-day India, incidents of anti-Muslim violence are politically motivated and a part of the electoral strategy of mainstream political parties who are associated with Hindu nationalism like the Bharatiya Janata Party (political wing of RSS).[30]. 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. You are not alone. 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. Thanks for respecting that." Add a rough, torn, camouflage jacket with no insignia. Truth should be your ultimate goal. All we can do is rest in His arms and let Him carry us into the end zone.. This is exactly what I should have done. It's like fingers scratching across a chalk board. Many atheists find belief in a supernatural deity to be irrational. Just be sure you think it through first, and that youve tried your best to make things work. Ive suggested this tactic before. Even politics may be a less contentious topic to bring up. Were entirely ready to have Reason remove all these defects of character. The virtue of the fanatic as an agitator is largely due to the emotional response which his appeal finds in the If the person invites you to a religious service, agree to go as a respectful observer. Remember, you dont have to defend your point of view to anyone. 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. Together we can lick this thing.". Because religion is often irrational, arguing about religion is usually pretty pointless. Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". You dont want to be blamed for all the evils done by those who rejected religion, do you? If scientists were to respond likewise by saying, The brain works in mysterious ways, or Evolution works in mysterious ways, theists would simply sneer, for they cant see the beam in their own eye. Lon- 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. If that doesn't help, I just leave them talking to themselves. away from religious beliefs. Who saw that coming? Why are Christians guilty of hate speech? (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. Give your child a preview of what they might hear from relatives or friends at school. Dont worry; the situation is not as bad as Ive made it sound. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. So what hope is there? 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. but I'm allowed to give the answer I want to give." "I'm all for . 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. 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. "What part of Fuck You! Even if you're an atheist, it doesn't mean that you can't have good discussions with a religious person. Falling in love with someone's musical taste, Expecting your wedding to be the happiest day of your life. 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. Approaching religious loved ones adversarially is that part. 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. Ive done too many bad things, said Uncle John. Grace was said at the start of some, "Praying in public. 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. 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. I just wanted to continue about my business for the day). It may seem trite to discuss sports or the weather at Thanksgiving dinner, but its probably preferable to a knock-down, drag-out fight over deeply-held religious beliefs. What other activities do you enjoy doing outside of church? To comprehend religious fanaticism, it is crucial to understand the basics of religion and spirituality. [26] The word jihad in Arabic means 'struggle'. [.] How do I respond if a relative asks if I have accepted Jesus as my personal savior? Dont ask questions that are purposely leading and antagonistic. By fanatic, I refer to those fundamentalists who cast aside the moral constraints of their own doctrines for the betterment of their cause. Can they be justified through rational thought? They kill innocent bystanders, sometimes by the thousands or millions. 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. Do you honestly think your relatives religious views are going to succeed in indoctrinating your child. 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. This is the article for you. What is the best way to evangelize someone who is in a cult or false religion. www.subud.org - Official website of the World Subud Association. Some people have such strong beliefs that they try very hard to convince others that their way is the right and only way. Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; 10-20 minutes. As always, there is a balance to be struck. Bin Laden may not have looked like an anti-globalisation campaigner, but he shared with them a concern about the effects of unbridled capitalism. Fear is a lack of faith. Allow others the opportunity to speak. Dr. Church holds a BS in Psychology from Eckerd College and an MS and PhD in Experimental Psychology from The University of Memphis. Be honest, especially since it is a relative. You may want to say, It seems like weve been going back and forth on this issue for awhile. When was the last time you changed someones religion by arguing a point really well? Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. Synonyms include extremist, radical, chauvinist, militant, bigot, sectarian, diehard, and dogmatist. How do you deal with religious fanatics? 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". 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? 5. The look is shared by all sorts of murderous but non-fanatical rebels, mercenaries, and government-sponsored militias across Latin America, Asia and Africa. Psychiatry professor Dr. Harold Koenig, from the Medical Center in Dukes University, North Carolina, studies the . "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.". Youre not going to convince someone otherwise in one conversation. This will help you better understand where the other person is coming from, and will help you to generate questions about their faith. If the person shows up at your door, dont just slam it in their face. People's views become extreme when they feel they are being treated unfairly. You can say I am feeling disrespected right now and am going to take myself out of this situation.. (As if they would anyway!) Finally, if the person refuses to stop insulting you or to attempt to understand your perspective better, reassess the friendship. 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. 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. 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. 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. The third level is even worse than the second. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible. Only Jesus can do that. From her parents Maria Theresa inherited not only their noble blood, but also a heart sensitive for the needy. Fanaticism definition, fanatical character, spirit, or conduct. 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. 1 Don't bring up the subject unnecessarily. You know that God loves you no matter what youve done, right? I asked. And if we dont, well, then they wont regard us as serious atheists. He seemed very intent in having me at the very least take a bible with me. You must understand the cause, and expose the effect.". The sad fact is that some relationships are not strong enough and never were to withstand the divide caused by religious differences. This article was co-authored by Mary Church, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? And so they proceed to blame everyone and everything else in the world, save themselves. I paused for quite a while to be sure of my words. Before you begin the conversation, ask if the person understands what an atheist is. But we also have another ace in the hole: Make atheism-of-the-gaps arguments. Let us inform religious folk that we wont pay attention to their superstitions, or their criticisms of atheism, until theyve read The Very Best of Atheist Thought. ", "This was extremely helpful, I am a satanist, but I applied this to my view. No wonder so many of us fall off the wagon. Something happened to me the other day that made me feel pretty uncomfortable and I felt like I had no idea how to respond. And when they cant (or shouldnt be) avoided, a thoughtful and respectful approach can help prevent a contentious situation. Some of us are facing relatives who are heartbroken about our lack of faith incredulous, fearful, maybe even angry. I would appreciate it if I could have a moment to collect my thoughts.. Please have your Passports Ready. According to Ellens, the al-Qaeda members who took part in the terrorist attacks did so out of their belief that, by doing it, they would "enact a devastating blow against the evil of secularized and non-Muslim America. Especially if you are very unfamiliar with the persons religion, search online, read articles, consult books, and consider taking a look at the faiths sacred text(s). M. Hughes, G. Johnson (eds.). Talk to your employer about it. 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). You should never feel like you have to lie or pretend about what you believe (or don't). I tried to see it as an opportunity to spread the good news. If they did maybe they would be a bit smarter than they actually are. If you find it fun to discuss or debate religious beliefs, and can do so respectfully, then have at it. If you think of another point youd like to make, dont put yourself back into a bad situation. The struggle can be a struggle of implementing the Islamic values in daily activities, a struggle with others to counter arguments against Islam, or self-defense when physically attacked because of belief in Islam. 10 pick. The Intolerance of Tolerance by D.A. Give a measured, calm response, or none at all if you so choose. Your views are equally right and important. According to Steffen, there are portions of the Quran where military jihad is used. 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]. "I never mix business and religion. This is where the reality of what they seek comes in, and the unconventional means of tackling the worlds problems. The one who has absolute faith in their God cannot fear anything, neither in life nor in death. Why cant he keep kids from getting cancer, or stay the waves of tsunamis? If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Dr. Mary Church is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Don't blame yourself. References. Im saving myself for marriage, I said, showing him my purity ring. Since you know what to expect, you should prepare a short list of rules that YOU must follow. I was confused how to handle it, as in my country it's dangerous to speak about it publicly. Try finding support online. Instead, quickly provide them with some basic information about atheism. Teaching in a World of Violent Extremism. If you are resentful towards religion, consider that much of your resentment probably stems from people attempting to force their beliefs on you. After all, theyre the ones making unevidenced claims about reality, not us. make no such allegation about the Crusaders in Jerusalem. This is the root cause of religious fanaticism. Be self-effacing. The Haynals write: "The dictionary defines a fanatic as someone with excessive and single minded zeal. I am thankful that we can all be together now to enjoy it, and each others company.. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. 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.". 1. ", 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". Such zealousness may result in severe problems for humanity at large. 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. But if youre going to end up feeling frustrated or angry or thinking less of the person youre debating, then leave it. 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". If the UN can't define a terrorist, then I will not even try. We all have different sensory capabilities and process information differently. Before you point out how ridiculous this calculation is, realise it is only here to entertain.). More to follow. 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. When he first brought up Jeebus I would have said, "I don't like talking about such a private matter as religion. 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. Consequently, I had trouble making friends outside the most sympathetic circle of gracious believers at my church. They ask what that is and I say, look it up. N.p., Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2021. 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). You can always delay and resume the conversation at another time. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. [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? ", meals. 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 . Remember that there's potential for acceptance, and celebration of these differences, because they're all important. "There were a lot of gods. But religious people arent concerned about that. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? The kind of response that one Sunday led to our entire congregation lining up, and, at the touch of a remarkably dynamic worship leader, falling to the floor like dominoes slain, as we were, in the spirit. 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