One of the topics brought up by the philosophes in our reading for Thursday that we didn't talk about that much in class was fanaticism. I have a personal interest in this area because I feel like fanaticism is again getting out of control in our own time. I have dealt with fanatics abroad during my time in the service, but I also feel like we have populous sects of our society here at home that are becoming more and more fanatical on one end of the religious and political spectrum or the other.
Religious fanatics scare me the most because I have seen up close and personal what they are capable of when properly motivated. Voltaire said that "he who reinforces his madness by murder is a fanatic." I saw it over and over again in different conflicts where a powerful Muslim cleric would call on his people to murder others or sacrifice themselves in the name of God. Of course these "holy men" weren't going to volunteer to do the dirty work themselves, but instead some barely out-of-adolescence male would usually be the one served up for the cause. One sect even strapped suicide vests on three 14 year old girls, who, believe me, didn't volunteer for the job. Thankfully, they were stopped before anything happened. Besides the wars we're entangled in, I fear Islamic fanaticism on a global scale. Many of these terrorist leaders are themselves just pawns being used by greater powers who see an easily manipulated and expendable fighting force they can use to achieve anything but these so-called "religious" goals. For what usually lies behind all of this religious bluster is the thirst for wealth and power. Unfortunately, our own country and others created weapons that, in the wrong hands, can change the world in a few seconds. I hope we can resolve our conflicts with Islam and cool the fires of fanatical hatred before it's too late.
I don't want to just pick on Islam, because I have great Muslim friends and I have fought side by side with very devout Muslims who feel disgraced by the way fanatics abuse their faith. More and more of what frightens me are the fundamentalist Christian sects in our own country that are bordering on or have already crossed into fanaticism. While cases of murdering in the name of their god aren't as prevalent in our society, it still amazes me in a country as open as ours that so called "followers" of a man who is portrayed as the most tolerant man to ever walk the earth, can be so closed-minded and hateful. I have friends who are bright and kind people, but if you disagree or don't share their same beliefs about Jesus, then you're wrong about not only that, but just about everything else too. When you question their beliefs, they react in one of two ways - either with anger or like a five year old who plugs his ears and stomps his feet. Politics seems to have helped stoke these new fanatical fires and polarize some people in our country into opposing groups that can't seem to find the middle ground of compromise at all. Two such groups are people who base everything they do in their lives off of their faith, as opposed to people who look down on the deeply religious as being shallow or backward. I am neither, but I do feel that more and more of these fringe groups are carrying way too much political clout because of their ability to organize with new media, etc. It doesn't help either with the talking heads who are constantly present on TV trying to inflame the passions of one group against another. I guess the point I'm trying to get at with my rambling is that our country is at one of those pivotal moments in it's history. We can either come together, solve our problems, and move forward, or splinter apart and then blame each other during the aftermath. I personally believe we can and will come together, but only after those of our fellow citizens who quake with anger and the mere mention of one another, can find the middle ground of what's best for our country.
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Intersting topic, I like it. Could fanaticism be something that has always been a struggle or prevalent source of strife within and between countries, but we choose to over look it? Or have we become so tolerant of fanatic behavior that it is no longer seen as the terrible behavior that it actually is, and we just accept it as the norm? In reference to the beliefs of individuals in our own country, I don't feel like it is " one of those pivotal moments," our country has experienced wide variety of religious belief for quite some time and it hasn't torn us apart yet. It seems as though maybe it is getting more publicity now than in the past, but so are families with 19 kids and people who like own tattoo parlors.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem with fanaticism at home is partially fueled by the media. There are media outlets out there, on both sides of the ideological isle, that specifically take incidents from someone they disagree with and blow it up out of proportion. To me, we're witnessing a slow and painful death of respectable journalism that's being replaced with a type of sensationalism, where hit-driven newspapers and news shows exist with the soul intent on trying to survive in an increasingly internet driven world. To them, they take the old adage "if it bleeds, it leads" to a whole new degree by finding the most remote stories about fanatics and portraying them as mainstream in an attempt to rile people up and get them to watch their show or read their website.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm certainly not dismissing fanaticism, and I do think it's a problem that exists, I wonder how much worse it is because of all the attention that gets thrown its way.
I agree that religious fanatics are a major problem in our society, foreign and domestic. However, if not for the fanatical views of our founding fathers we probably could not debate this point at all. If we did have contrary views, we would be seen as traitors to the crown or committing crimes against the people. We must as a people be very vigilant in our protection of our people and the core values that made this country great.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that religious fanatics are a problem in the world but the world is starting to come together to find a middle ground. I believe that's why so many people all over the world want to come to America to live the American dream. Although we do have religious fanatics in America, everyone has the right to believe and practice what they want. Unlike other countries, America is tolerant of other opinions and allows those to protest freely, but not violently. Our freedom allows us to be tolerant of others because we have basic rights and are not oppresed by our government.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments, I agree wholeheartedly that fanaticism is out of control in this world. I also think, however, that the nature of fanaticism is to be out of control and thus disturb the natural order. It seems a useful tool to advance the aforementioned agendas (which as you stated are rarely religiously motivated, even if that is the cover) because of the level of apathy in our society. It seems a bit naive to chaulk it up to that, but throughout history (bolsheviks, nazis, now muslim fudementalists) it has been the inaction of many that has allowed a minority to come to power.
ReplyDeleteThe fear and power of fanaticism is an important force in society but the word itself can be tricky. What makes one a fanatic? As you say, Voltaire argues that "he who reinforces his madness by murder is a fanatic" but how do we define madness? Is killing for a cause, any cause, to be viewed as fanaticism? Is any sort of devout faith considered fanaticism?
ReplyDeleteI think you are correct to point out how religious beliefs can be manipulated to justify acts that most religious leaders would object to but so can other ideologies like nationalism, ethnicity or race, etc. Religion, like these other ideologies can be a powerful motivating force and can offer people a belief system that seems to defy logic or reason.
To me, the larger question would be what draws people to these fanatical sects? As you point out, there are plenty of examples of extreme religious beliefs right here in the US. What is their appeal to people? What are people finding there that they are not finding in more traditional faiths?