Definition
The term religious fanaticism is a synonym to religious extremism which implies an uncritical or obsessive zeal towards one's devotion to one's religion. This means that a person of a religion accepts bluntly and blindly those tenets that are held by his religion and anything in contrary is a NO. The individual can go to the extent of killing fellow humans in defence of his religious tenets or can allow himself to die because something that can save him is against his religious tenets. Well, does this mean that even the famous martyrdom is an example of religious fanaticism?
Martyrdom may resemble religious fanaticism but it is not. This is however varying to the opinion of several persons. For Christians who discuss the matter of religious fanaticism, it would definitely not be a religious fanaticism for one to die for his faith in Christ and so on to other religions.
However, one thing is important in defining religious fanaticism and that is the word 'Uncritical' which means that the subject of one's fanaticism is not rational. Thus, religious fanaticism involves an irrational obsession of devotion to one's religion.
Openness to life is key to objectivity and a counter to religious fanaticism
The Danger of Religious Fanaticism
Every religion is a human formation. I may be sounding too generic and maybe fallacious but I just have to say it that way. Many persons may have different opinions on the formation or religions but I feel it's a human formation.
The human person, in a bid to satisfy his quest for transcendence to a divine being, chooses to believe in something which he feels is a force that is of supreme authority. For instance, the Christianity as we have it today is an institution by the followers of Christ eventhough we believe it to be a desire by Christ to estaish a religion of this nature.
The Islamic religion is an institution by the Prophet Mohammed and so are many other religions in the world. That being the case, the tenets of these religions are also fruits of human constructions. And therefore, it would be very dangerous to take them by the letters and apply them to one's way of living.
A Christian who reads the Scriptures and sees where it is written that man shall not eat anything with blood may refuse to be diffused of blood when he is in a critical health condition and in need of it. This is a pure example of religious fanaticism. This person may end up losing his life for no reasonable cause.
Or someone may be so obsessed with his religion such that he would force anybody around him to believe in what he believes and if not, there wouldn't be peace between him and them. This leads to conflict in the society. Everybody cannot be you and cannot believe in what you believe. The Fanatics, can go to the length of killing people who refuse to accept their religion.
Variety is the spice of life. Thus, if everybody should belong to a religion in the world, then man's life will be so fixed and lacking of different tastes. The perfection of life lies in the presence of various options. What should be fostered is unity in diversity in such a way that everyone learns to accept others of different religions.
The Ideal
Religious fanaticism is a disease to human existence and should be eradicated to foster serenity in the human society. Anything at all that is against the human life is an evil that should be put to an end. What should be the attitude of persons in their respective religions?
First of all, people must learn the fact that religion was made for man and not man for religion. Therefore, whatever religion should serve to protect the human life and for the well being of man. This means that religious tenets should be appropriately formulated with the theme of LOVE at the Centre. That is, love for all men.
Furthermore, reason should be put to action in keeping to any religious tenet. Jesus demonstrated some examples in the Scriptures which serve us to teach us to rationalize well about the religious tenets. For example, the Jews had a law that no one was to work on the sabbath. Jesus however, came and was performing Miracles on the sabbath and they reproached him for doing that. He immediately corrected them quoting that the sabbath is made for man and not man for the sabbath. Thus, the highest good first before any other.
The laws of the ten commandments were made for the good of the creatures and not in any way to favor God. God indeed has no need of us in any way but rather wants our good. Thus, let's us apply our reasoning well enough in studying the Bible or other religious tenets.
This kind of separates fanaticism from extremism, I like the lyrics. It only professes faith in Christ and kot like being ready to kill for chriat or whatever because rhat would be extremism
I hope that the religious Fanatics in our society today can come to a good knowledge of life and give up the violence that is caused by the desire to propagate their own religion over others. We are not in a competition on religious superiority. What is most important is the well being of man. Shalom!!