how to respond to a religious fanatic

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. No wonder fanaticism is so intoxicating. What should you do if your friend insults you simply because you are an atheist? How can we protect ourselves from these lost souls? Now I never thought of it like that, he said. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. You can ask, however, how their religion reconciles evil acts done under the guise of the faith. But don't beat yourself up over it. Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". Many atheists find belief in a supernatural deity to be irrational. I'm glad that you agree that this was, perhaps, the optimum behavior. To comprehend religious fanaticism, it is crucial to understand the basics of religion and spirituality. Ergo, there remains good evidence for atheism in the yawning gaps of religious understanding. Youll also encounter religious people who are ignorant about atheism, eager to convert you to their truth, and/or hostile to your very presence. In the end, religion, despite centuries of theologizing, hasnt begun to provide credible answers to the goddy puzzles above. Luckily for me this is only a "once on a great while" occurrence. Byrne, worried . Give a measured, calm response, or none at all if you so choose. The sad fact is that some relationships are not strong enough and never were to withstand the divide caused by religious differences. Should Christians desire to become martyrs? 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. (Freedom 24) He goes on to say, "The radicals insist that their central claim God's desire for Islam's triumph requires no interpretation. Join us. How do any believers know for sure that their faith is the right one, especially given the presumed penalty for guessing wrong. When was the last time you changed someones religion by arguing a point really well? My relaxed attitude made all the difference, and the trips always exceeded by expectations. So I propose that, when debating the religious, nonbelievers start using two tu quoque arguments. 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. Remember that there's potential for acceptance, and celebration of these differences, because they're all important. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 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. Let them say what they came to say, take any materials they offer you and thank them for their time. make no such allegation about the Crusaders in Jerusalem. I was at this guy's house buying car parts from him and somehow he gets to talking about being a Christian and asks me what I believe in. The most obvious might be the feared Al-Qaida terrorists and Taliban militiamen tramping around Central Asia. This post originally appeared in February 2012. Moran, Sen Farrell, "Patrick Pearse and Patriotic Soteriology," in Yonah Alexander and Alan O'Day, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 07:23. 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 . Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; 10-20 minutes. Two hundred adults from both genders between the ages of 21-86 years old from five religious denominations: Catholics, Protestants (i.e. For parents, this is an area that weighs especially heavily. It is not Us whom they fear, or at least not to start with. People's views become extreme when they feel they are being treated unfairly. Were entirely ready to have Reason remove all these defects of character. This is my go-to response when people ask me incredibly invasive and personal questions. If they experienced a contact with God, they would not need Holy Books or any teacher to know the difference between right and wrong. He knew how straight-laced I was, and that was probably the reason he enjoyed making these kinds of comments on a regular basis. Dont bother trying to reason with them. 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. [19] Moreover, Qutb's books have been frequently been cited by Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.[20][21][22][23][24][25]. The one who has absolute faith in their God cannot fear anything, neither in life nor in death. I mean, people didnt know what to do with a guy who was always trying to convert everyone including Christians to Christianity. Reviewed by Ekua Hagan. Learn More. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. But if youre going to end up feeling frustrated or angry or thinking less of the person youre debating, then leave it. "Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence. Tell him that reading the bible turned you an atheist - too much bullshit. Thats unconscionable. This sort of ends the conversation. This article helped me. 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. 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. 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. Even if you're an atheist, it doesn't mean that you can't have good discussions with a religious person. The look is shared by all sorts of murderous but non-fanatical rebels, mercenaries, and government-sponsored militias across Latin America, Asia and Africa. People love to talk about themselves. Either the dogma and rhetoric is too thick to see through, or the religious belief has becomes intertwined with out-and-out bigotry. This article was co-authored by Mary Church, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. 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 one wants to expose kids to the family tension, or say something that will make the the tension even worse. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. In the race for Alabama governor, an advertisement bankrolled by the state teachers' union attacked candidate Bradley Byrne because he supposedly supported teaching evolution. For example, I am feeling attacked right now. I was confused how to handle it, as in my country it's dangerous to speak about it publicly. 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. 'Fanatic' is derived from a Latin word that described possession by a god or demon. but I'm allowed to give the answer I want to give." "I'm all for . It will almost never change minds. If you are resentful towards religion, consider that much of your resentment probably stems from people attempting to force their beliefs on you. Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. The Reformation set off a chain of sectarian wars between the Catholics and the sectarian Protestants, culminating in the wars of religion. 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.". Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. 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. Dr. Church holds a BS in Psychology from Eckerd College and an MS and PhD in Experimental Psychology from The University of Memphis. Dont blame the person for all the evils you believe have been done in the name of that religion. Often, we see religious exposure and treat it as religious invasion, or we hear words of faith and interpret them as acts of war. Convince him you're a pagan that believes a Christian soul is immeasurable then get him to give you the car part you need in exchange for your pagan soul to Jesus. Many Christians were killed for having rival viewpoints. 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. Try shedding your armor before you walk in the door. 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). Presumably this would have been done by the Fatimid governor to prevent their possible collusion with the Crusaders. Psychiatry professor Dr. Harold Koenig, from the Medical Center in Dukes University, North Carolina, studies the . It's like fingers scratching across a chalk board. It is more widely appreciated in religions today that an actual contact with God's power is the true source of good behaviour. 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. Children may go to church every Sunday with their grandparents, but theyll still look to their parents for true religious guidance. First of all, dont panic! If you have an especially vocal family, and find yourself getting stressed out easily, you may need to lower your expectations a bit. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. 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 . An atheist should be someone who is open to asking questions and seeking answers. 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. This article has been viewed 457,250 times. Christian martyrdom - what does the Bible say? When he first brought up Jeebus I would have said, "I don't like talking about such a private matter as religion. If that doesn't help, I just leave them talking to themselves. But I never felt like I made much progress until one memorable phone conversation towards the end of his life. Make eye contact and focus on what the person is saying. Sooner or later, they will all burnout from the strain, or else get bored, give up and find a hobby. How should a Christian respond to persecution? When everyone is safe, secure, fed, and content. Because religion is often irrational, arguing about religion is usually pretty pointless. Fundamentalists do not obsessively focus upon dogma and ritual because God came to them and told them that was His will. 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". Allow others the opportunity to speak. Its hard to kick a drug if sobriety means admitting that youre a vile person through and through. Religious fanatics make frequent judgments on other people who are better off than they are spiritually. Jews had to be killed in the religious campaign because their very existence challenged the sole truth espoused by the Christian Church. Alcoholics Anonymous has been so successful in part because it gives the addict a graceful way out of the corner he or she is painted into. All we can do is rest in His arms and let Him carry us into the end zone.. 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. The result can be found in almost every corner of the globe. I tell him I'm an atheist. N.p., Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2021. If youre in a room full of believers, think carefully before steering the conversation towards your lack of belief. [citation needed]. 7 Tips for Dealing with Religious Relatives. So stop worrying so much. I live in Brazil and most people here are religious, but like, REALLY religious. If the person is a friend let them know you value their friendship, but feel uncomfortable by them trying to convert you. At age 19, I was a proud, Bible-thumping holy-roller who was on a one-man mission to save the world from sin. And so they proceed to blame everyone and everything else in the world, save themselves. Not a chance. They kill innocent bystanders, sometimes by the thousands or millions. Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors. Fanatics are driven by perpetual fear and emotional suppression. In contrast, the gaps in theism never narrow. Since Osama bin Laden's fatwa in 1998, jihad has increasingly become an internationally recognized term. This is the root cause of religious fanaticism. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 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. You can say I am feeling disrespected right now and am going to take myself out of this situation.. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This is where the reality of what they seek comes in, and the unconventional means of tackling the worlds problems. "What part of Fuck You! This book doesnt make any sense, and it contradicts itself all over the place! Right, sure. Where fanatics say I reasoned once, came to the absolute truth and dont have to reason again, science, a practical practice we can learn to apply well beyond the lab, admits that theres no last word, just todays best guesses, to be improved upon through ongoing inquiry. Take this seriously. Something happened to me the other day that made me feel pretty uncomfortable and I felt like I had no idea how to respond. But we can play the Gap Game, too. 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. Magic phrase: "That's not my belief system". Humbling ourselves to it is painful. From her parents Maria Theresa inherited not only their noble blood, but also a heart sensitive for the needy. Who saw that coming? Im lucky to have a supportive family. Its not your fault, but it is your responsibility to kick it. As always, there is a balance to be struck. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible. Deeper Division of the classes. But if religion is ever going to become a non-subject in your house, youre going to have to own your part in it. T. With the Draft a month and a half away, many fans are zeroing in on ideal targets with the No. Thats why its called faith. Dont Panic! You dont have to convert to their religion or share their beliefs, but you will certainly learn something new. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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. | 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. Weve learned though, that treating alcoholics as criminals doesnt help us or them. You don't 'handle it'; You walk away. 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. He had no idea how badly I needed to hear that. If the person invites you to a religious service, agree to go as a respectful observer. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. All rights reserved. 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. Most of all, they blame the United States of America. A believer in religion may be open and liberal and an,other 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. Once they have finished their thought, thank them for their time. Top it all off with a Kalashnikov rifle held with both hands. However many Catholics see the crusades as a just war. Fanaticism Quotes. Genocide or Jesus: A God of Conquest or Pacifism? If necessary, provide some source recommendations for the other person to consult and request that you resume the conversation at another time. Ongoing thats how science practices reason. That shit will get under anyones skin. [7] 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. All your friends don't need to be atheists. Why, if God so ardently wants us to know and accept him, does he hide himself from humanity? Otherwise, youll come across as aggressive, which will likely lead to conflict. 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.. If 3 or 4 nice ways of saying no don't work, then pull out all the stops. By contrast, only three-in-ten people who are classified as not highly religious (31%) say religion is very important in their lives, and most of the rest (38%) say religion is "not too" or "not at all" important to them. And would a loving Godreally let someone burn foreverbecause they were Jews, or didnt get baptized? Understand that rational has nothing to do with it. How can nonreligious types deal with religious relatives? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 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. 16 Bryan, D. Fanatics, Mobs and Terrorists: The Dynamics of Orange Parades in Northern Ireland. This will help to diffuse a potentially bad situation. What other activities do you enjoy doing outside of church? Religious fanaticism definition: Fanaticism is fanatical behaviour or the quality of being fanatical. 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. Whilst religions offer advice and encouragement to help people to improve themselves, associations like Subud offer actual experience of the reality. And, as always, love and levity go along way. Far more dysfunctional families than your own have been saved simply by identifying a common enemy. You should never feel like you have to lie or pretend about what you believe (or don't). Only Jesus can do that. Naw, Josh-ah. 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. 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. Why didnt Jesus return during his followers lifetime, as he promised? We all have different sensory capabilities and process information differently. Ive been trying to find some new activities to do. This is likely to shift the conversation to jet-skiing, stamp collecting, volunteering at an animal shelter, etc. Even politics may be a less contentious topic to bring up. So what hope is there? And it worked! All content copyright original author unless stated otherwise. That happens a lot with me too. Confront their bullshit by saying how rude their behavior is and if they don't stop, walk away. Picture for yourself an ugly, scarred, bearded face. But I also realized that we can turn the tables on these people. Avoid debate (especially when liquor is involved). 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? Bin Laden's concept, though, is very different from the actual meaning of the term. Welcome to r/atheism, the web's largest atheist forum. What is the best way to evangelize someone who is in a cult or false religion. This is not to say they are acting in self-defence. His peers in Christian rap are responding . I just felt so surprised/ambushed by it that I had no time to react or think of how to react. Humbly invoked reason to remove our shortcomings. He seemed very intent in having me at the very least take a bible with me. 6. Talk to your employer about it. But we also have another ace in the hole: Make atheism-of-the-gaps arguments. Be honest, especially since it is a relative. In the meantime, the governments of the world are absolutely right to respond to fanatics who turn to terrorism with all necessary force. Use I statements. "I recently spent a number of meal times with my wife's (religious) family. Say something like I am thankful for the people who grew this food, those who provided it, and those who prepared it. Add a rough, torn, camouflage jacket with no insignia. Before you begin the conversation, ask if the person understands what an atheist is. 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. You may want to say, It seems like weve been going back and forth on this issue for awhile. Reason is a much harder master than god. A Cut-Out-and-Keep Ministry of Information Guide. Give them an opportunity to speak. The Intolerance of Tolerance by D.A. 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. . Why would the Abrahamic God, all-lovingand all-powerful, allow natural evils to tormentand kill people? I believe He can, Josh-ah, he said. 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. {"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":"