Why are all the most visible ultra-religious people always such whackos?

Question

Pat Robertson
Jerry Falwell
Jim Jones
David Koresh
Ann Coulter
Fred Phelps
James Dobson
Ted Haggard

All complete whack-jobs. Why aren't there any normal ultra-religious celebrities? Why do the ones in the limelight always have to be so crazy? I know crazy sells, but come on. Surely there are some at least marginally normal ultra-religious people out there to stand up for the normal Christians...Or am I being too optimistic? Is there a correlation between "crazy" and "ultra-religious"?

Answer 1

I would say there IS a correlation between being "ultra-religious" and being a whacko...lol. I don't see how you can take the tenets of any given religion seriously and still pretend that you're consistently sane. And to the "religious" people who disagree, all I have to say is, consider the way you view other religions! Devout Christians are practically required to think Muslims are nuts, or at best deluded and misguided, and vice-versa. Otherwise, why be Christian rather than Muslim? Well, as an atheist, I've simply decided that you're both deluded and misguided - at least insofar as you're dogmatic. Of course, that's just my opinion!

By the way, it's a shame I can only thumb down the girl who says "Pat Robertson is awesome" once.

Answer 2

Its not nearly as much fun talking about the 'normal' ones.

But get a believer to claim that God is all for killing Gays or wants money in return for sparing a life, and we are all over the water cooler with that...

The 'normal' religious people, realize that they hold a belief, and aren't willing to go 'all-in' with it, because deep down inside, they understand that it is only an impression.

You can see the same thing on this board, the Christians who get the most attention, are the ones who have mortgaged their reason for belief.

Answer 3

Crazy is kind of an interim step. Normal is ....what? Football and the military and wars and consumerism and vanity? Selfishness and aggession? Nationalism and racism and ignorance. So if you consider normal to be 'ok', then you are being an ostrich.

Not that I don't agree with you that those you mentioned are not sane, but then, what IS sane? Normal? Going to Iraq to kill civilians for things Saddam did? To live your life out as a vain consumer that delegates their responsibilities to others then complains?

This question of being normal and crazy goes a lot deeper than many think.

Answer 4

And on the other side representing those who believe as you do, celebrities. How do they stack up? Normal to you I suppose.

Just depends on your point of view as to what a wacko is. Some of those on your list may qualify and others don't. I wonder what people who know you, think of you?

Answer 5

you want to see a true Christian? one that teaches Gods word not mans opinion? One that doesn't ask for money but puts books and messages free on the Internet? One whose church doesn't take an offering because its not about money?
One who send millions of dollars of books, tapes and support to missionaries all over the world?

go to jamesknox.com listen to him and you will see he is being used of God mightily

Answer 6

I'd have to say that all ultra religious people qualify as whackos.

Answer 7

You forgot Jim Bakker and Kent Hovind.

Answer 8

Normal people do not make the news, unless something horrible is happening to them.

Answer 9

Crazy and religious tend to be synonyms in America.

Answer 10

You know, James Dobson always gets thrown in there with all the rest, but everything I hear from him is usually sound advice about strengthening families. I don't agree with all of his politics, but the vast majority of his work has nothing to do with that.