Is it true there is a lot of religious fanatism in the USA? How does this manifest itself in your daily life?

Question

How do you overcome this?

Thanks for your answer :-)
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ooops typo: fanaticism.

Answer 1

I really only see it on the Internet. I have met many religious fanatics here, but I don't think they are rampant. Most people I meet are indifferent to religion.

Answer 2

Yikes this is a deep question. It could be said that many Christians could be considered fanatics. The same can be said for Jews, Muslims etc. In every religion in history there has been some sort of Fanatical events and leaders. The Crusades are a bloody part of Christian history. The Romans oppressing the Jewish are a part of fanatical past. Jim Jones in Africa and the mass suicide of hundreds could be considered religious hysteria. If you are a Muslim and from the Middle East living in the USA many would consider you a fanatic. ( I don't share this belief) Religious fanatics can be a bad thing when linked with "crazy" or insane people but there can also be people that are fanatics about religion that are not dangerous. They just are immersed in what they believe in, however this does not HAVE to have a negative impact on what their belief system is. In fact it also is a matter of opinion. Many would say that Joan of Arc was a fanatic, however many also would argue that she was a heroine. It is very subjective and many people that label another as a fanatic are themselves just ignorant of the facts surrounding that persons belief. How to overcome it? Well stand strong in your beliefs, don't judge another until you have walked in their shoes, and don't harm another for what you believe in. Tolerance is supposed to prevail in the USA, but that is not always the case. Be strong in the presence of ignorance.

Answer 3

Yes, there is a lot of religious fanaticism in America. Fanatics try to pass civic laws to allow them to teach religion (creationism) in science classes and to ban abortion and same-sex marriages because of their religious views. You fight it wherever and whenever you can, but sometimes these "zealot" populations organize very well and win out at the voting polls. One of the downsides to individuals that have more open viewpoints is they have a tendency to be apathetic when it comes to voting and only about 10-15% will actually vote on polling days. The "fanatic hate groups", however, organize their mobs very well, and come to the polls in percentages closer to 80%. A good example of this is our upcoming presidential election. Based upon current opinion polls, George Bush only has a 21% approval rating because the majority of people consider him to be a warlike religious zealot. However, a candidate running in the upcoming election has made a commitment to bring "The God of the Bible back to America". He has a good chance of winning the election even though the majority population is against this because moderate and liberal individuals propably won't even show up to vote in the election.

Answer 4

One man's religious fanaticism is another man's sober moderate action.

I usually use the guide about whether something is fanatical by how it would be viewed by others who do not have that particular religion or those who don't know or have no religion.

Those religions that encourage killing as a way of getting closer to God are all pretty clearly (at best) wacky. And yes, to the degree that Christians use their religion as an argument to kill, I consider them fanatics.

Fortunately, at least around here, most Christians would agree with me.

Answer 5

It is very difficult. some right wing Christian religions insist we call an ever green tree a Christmas tree even thought we have explained it has nothing to do with Christ.
I think Christmas is a pagan holiday and Jesus Christ my savior would not want me to celebrate it as his birthday.
That does not make me a wicked person or as I was called unAmerican. I was told that is what this country was founded on. To my suprise: I thought it was founded on freedom of religion? I don't want Christmas cards or to give them.
I don't want to go to a Christmas party and get drunk with the employees. I spend enough time with them already.
I don't want a gift nor do I want to exchange names for gifts.
I don't want to tell my little girls that some strange man at the mall is going to bring her presents. So go sit on his lap.
I don't want to lie to my girls about Santa Clause.
As far as gifts, what could we get them they don't already have? My house looks like Toys R US!
I want to take them where they can go ice skating and learn to ski. Not some boring family thing. Use the new sled and build a snowman. Things like that!
I get sick of Merry Christmas and how many presents you still need to buy. They keep a list so to be sure and spend the same amount the other guy spent on them last year.
How is that generous? " I will give you a $20. shopping card and you give me one." Does that make any sense to you?
then you have the muslims trying to convince us they are peaceful while you read the news about 16 more insergents killed last night in Bagdad. What in the hell is an insergent?
Isn't that a muslim that is extremists. who is definitely not peaceful. I am so sick of religion and the people who belong to religions. TV Evangelists decideing who we should vote for. and the worse part even after they endorced Bush people still want to know who they think we should vote for.
while they are the most corrupt people on the planet.
Thank you for letting me vent I feel much better.

Answer 6

Comparitively, not much. We don't have religious riots and criminal penalties for violations of religious rules. We do have some really obnoxious people who use the media to abuse other people in the name of religion, but that is mostly name calling.
We have people who feel they must stand on street corners and preach to the multitude so yell at passers by and interfere with conversations. When I am in the mood I stand in front of them at ask them in the same loud rhythm if they know Matthew 6:6 which has Jesus' words to show-off outdoor praying people to "pray in a closet" and then gives the Lord's Prayer as what to say. The usual response is that they are not praying but obeying the later instructions to spread the word - ignoring the public shouting/bragging prohibition.

Answer 7

Go live in a Muslim country, you will discover fanaticism. The US does not impose religion on anyone. If you want to make picture of Jesus out of piss, make a silly cartoon of Mohammed or make fun of any other religion, the the government won't stop you. Americans don't care what their neighbor believes, just so long as they leave them alone and don't interfere with their lives.

Answer 8

If there is, I don't see it. At least not in real life, but on the internet it seems to be a huge deal.
I'm not religious and I've never had a problem with religious fanatics, probably because I just don't associate with people like that.
I think this issue is greatly exaggerated.

Answer 9

Yes there is..........& it started when they landed the boat....has never ended. There is really no team work - it's all divide and conquer each other. Like vanpires feeding off of each other....it's every where. "Walking your talk" is not a thing that they have learned yet - still having growing pains & they have been at it for more than 200 years you would think that they could learn from past mistakes.......gezzzzzzzzzzz.
By learning tolerance, diversity, compassion, honor, etc. All the things that fall under the definition of Love would be a good start
Shine on....!

Answer 10

Well, I think that for the most part what we see in the US is not Christian fanaticism, but rather Christian worldliness! Christians think there needs to be almost no difference between them and people that don't know Christ, when in actuality, Christianity causes one to have a completely different lifestyle from non-believers.

Fanaticism is always possible, whenever people desire to place their extreme thoughts against what the bible teaches. Like the Jews during Jesus' time, they "teach as doctrine the commandments of men." Watch out for that! We should follow the Bible--not people!~