Do you think religious fanatics are potentially dangerous?

Answer 1

Yes, for several reasons.
They are true believers. This means that the cannot compromise. In a democratic peaceful society compromise is necessary. A true believer will put up with a compromise but will never accept it and will in fact violate the very principals that brought about the compromise, i.e., open inquiry and open discussion. True believers get their truth directly from god and therefore there is no room in the world, politically or socially for anything but their view. Look at what fanatic true believers have done over the centuries:

1. The moslim wars of the 9th century spreading Islam by force all the way to Spain and Austria.

2. The crusades with the Christian west trying to take the holy land back from the molsums.

3. The Inquisition in Europe: burning persons who differed from the accepted practices, i.e., Joan of Arc and thousands of others.

4. The thirty years war in Europe.

5. The Puritan conquest of England and the execution of the King.

6. The intolerance of the Puritans in America driving the Baptists out of Massachusettes. i.e., Roger Williams and Anne Hutchenson.

7. The Salem witch trials hanging innocent women convicted of being witches.

8. Jim Jones and the People"s Temple suicides and murders.

9. The Saint Barthalamew's Day massacre.

10. The Holocost death of Jews, Jehobvah's Witnesses and others in Nazi death camps.

10. The Alcada led Muslim War on America and the West.

Answer 2

Any fanatic is potentially dangerous. Fanatics can also do wonderful things due to their single minded dedication to their cause. Mother Teresa was pretty fanatical yet she channelled her passion into good work. Maybe the 'good' fanatics just don't get the same media attention as their stories aren't nearly as interesting as the bad ones. Being fanatical about something isn't neccessarily a bad thing, what you do with that fanaticism and how you do it is.

Answer 3

Potentially, yes. But fanaticism needs to be defined. Are devout, highly spiritual people considered fanatics? Do you hear of many Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses hurting people? Neither Religion nor Fanaticism are inherently dangerous, nor is their combination. Religion merely suffices as the vessel to convey a message, and fanaticism is how much one believes the message. The danger comes when one sees the need to use extreme measures to force the religion and message on unwilling peoples.

Answer 4

Let's also include the U.S. in the throws with the Middle East when we talk about killing over religion. History has it that the Indians were killed because they would not adopt Christianity or make good slaves. Indians had their own religious beliefs. So the europeans eventually went to Africa and and tried to preach Christianity there as well as trade for villagers and already enslaved people. None of civilization is removed from 'my religion is better than yours' religion. I look at it as a way of controlling the mind to bring law and order into the society. But as we can see by the example of the middle east countries, we need to watch out once they all stop fighting.

Answer 5

The Republican party is a unusual and wonderful hybrid in the beginning. The party of Goldwater snatched up the Southern vote, extra often than not with the aid of racism. They then preceded to takeover the entire party. leaving at the back of the non secular good may be the sane ingredient to do, yet they could kick out the financial conservative libertarians truly.

Answer 6

Yes. Anyone with an extreme belief system is dangerous. They are not leading a balanced life.

Answer 7

religious fanaticism - the most extreme form of religious fundamentalism, which typical takes on violent, and potentially deadly dimensions

yes, it is dangerous per definition

Answer 8

I would never allow my kids to hang out with any ,or go to a Church, I feel that our bodies are our temple and god lives with in us,I do believe in GOD and JESUS but i do not attend any churches or hang out with any religious fanatics. i would not want my kids to get confused, i feel that when they grow up they can choose their own path.

Answer 9

They can be...AS with everything even religion can be perverted...People read more into something and make that the reason they do evil things. Christians do it right along with the Muslims. Example: people who blow up abortion clinics because they don't believe in abortion. I don't believe in it either but also don't believe that its right to kill others who do. See the difference? I also don't push that on others, unless my opinion is asked.

But believing in God does not make a person evil, just makes them different from those who don't. I don't push my belief on others and I can't stand it when people push theirs on me. And I really hate it when people are nasty to me just because I believe in God!

Answer 10

Anybody who insists he's right and you're wrong, and then makes it his duty to convince you, is already wrong, from the point of view of free choice. If you are sure of your convictions, then what difference does it make, what someone else thinks. It comes from insecurity, really, since faith is something you can't really tangibly prove ... so the next best thing is to convince somebody else you're right, so as to convince yourself