an essay on religious fanaticism

• Entertainment
• Auto & Tech
• Lifestyle & Health
• Legally Speaking
• Statistically Speaking
• Medically Speaking
• Art & Culture
• Spirituality
• Society & Living
• Royally Speaking
• Write For Us
• Web Stories

The difference between faith and fanaticism

A person of faith recognises the truth that god is, whoever it may be, for him and others, while a fanatic is certain that only s/he knows who or what god is and is blinded by her/his passion. that is where differences between the two arise..

Fanaticism has been in evidence across the world. Even Europe has no respite from the scourge, as one saw during the summer of 2016—from the acts of terrorism in Brussels on 22 March to the machete attack in Belgium on 6 August. And the trend continues till date. This wave of fanaticism raises certain questions for all people of faith. They are proud of the strength of their religious convictions, but so is the fanatic. What then sets a person of faith apart from a fanatic?

This question becomes particularly relevant in the context of terrorism, as one could pose a similar question about terrorism. The state uses violent force to combat terrorism but the terrorist also uses violent force against the state. So what is the difference between the two? All of us feel uneasy with an equation of this kind but we need to think clearly about this issue in order to feel clearly about it. In a country, the state has a monopoly on the use of violent force, which is supervised by a democratically elected government. Such moral and legal supervision is lacking in the case of a fanatic and that is why the apparent equation is misleading.

The difference between faith and fanaticism runs along similar lines. Fanaticism results from being blinded by the intensity of the luminosity of one’s own religious tradition by standing too close to it, instead of seeing the whole world transfigured in its light. The person of faith also stands close to his or her tradition but lives in the light, not in darkness. Unlike the fanatic, the person of faith realizes that faith, almost by definition, is faith in things unseen, and that when we say we have faith in God, we also acknowledge that we cannot quite really know the whole of God. Some would even say we cannot know God at all, but we can relax that position and say that we can know God in some ways. But most will acknowledge, even the most faithful, that we can only know God as we can relate to God, not to God as God, not to God as God is by himself, herself, or itself. Right there we have a built-in check which prevents honest and profound faith from degenerating into fanaticism, because fanaticism presumes to know what God is. It is strange that sometimes religions tend to believe that they have a monopoly on God and that’s where fanaticism comes in. But if they examine the concepts of God in their own traditions, they will find that the traditions insist that one cannot know God fully.

Allow me to elaborate this point with an example from Islam, since some members of this tradition have been associated with many acts of terrorism in recent times. The fanatic member of this tradition is out to get the infidel, but in order to define someone as an infidel, we need to know who a true Muslim is. At this point a crucial distinction in Islam between the legal and theological identity of a Muslim becomes crucial. According to Islamic law, any person who recites the Islamic confession of faith in good faith in the presence of witnesses must be accepted as a Muslim and may not be denied access to a gathering of Muslims. He or she may not observe all the obligations of being a Muslim, such as performing the five prayers daily, but that only means that the person is not a good Muslim and cannot mean that she is not a Muslim. Thus, while the distinction between a Muslim and a non-believer is fairly clear in legal terms, the theological understanding of who is a Muslim is much more subtle. Whether one is a true believer or not is known only to God, and one and oneself only really know whether one is a true believer or not in the presence of God on the Day of Judgement. One can see how easy it is to fall in the gulf between these two understandings.

Perhaps a distinction needs to be drawn between truth and certainty. Often, when we think we are seeking truth, we are really seeking certainty. If such is the case then, yes, there is great potential for fanaticism in a faith, if we arrive at a conclusion and feel that it is absolutely certain. But the genuine seeker after truth realizes that we ourselves cannot know everything conclusively, except perhaps for the conclusion that ‘God is.’ Admittedly, there is a discomfort involved here. But if we can live with it—and all genuine faith recognises that we have to—then we have a built-in check against fanaticism, in faith itself.

Another distinction gains importance in this context. Whether one is a person of faith or a fanatic also depends on our attitude towards other people of faith. If we are certain that the people of other faiths are condemned, and abide by the ‘legal’ conception of one’s identity, then we have no purchase on our spirituality. If, however, we realise that only God can pronounce such a judgement and not mere human beings, then, as people of faith, it might be easier for us to understand that there are other people who are also people of faith like us. And that if we deny them their right to their faith, then in a sense we are questioning our own faith, or at least our humanity. Actually, when you become a fanatic, then in a sense, instead of worshiping God, you start playing God. Thus, like any other passion, even religious or moral passion can blind a person.

The writer is the Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at the McGill University in Montréal, Canada. He is also associated with the Nalanda University in India. The views expressed are personal.

The difference between faith and fanaticism runs along similar lines. Fanaticism results from being blinded by the intensity of the luminosity of one’s own religious tradition by standing too close to it, instead of seeing the whole world transfigured in its light. The person of faith also stands close to his or her tradition but lives in the light, not in darkness. Unlike the fanatic, the person of faith realises that faith, almost by definition, is faith in things unseen, and that when we say we have faith in God, we also acknowledge that we cannot quite really know the whole of God. Some would even say we cannot know God at all, but we can relax that position and say that we can know God in some ways.

Olympus Mons: The Tallest Mountain In Solar System

Top 9 Places In Manali For An Unforgettable Trip

Who Is Rishi Parti? The Man Who Bought A ₹190 Crore Flat In Gurgaon’s Exclusive DLF Camellias

Animals That Cry And Grieve Like Human You Must Know About

How Much Salary Will Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli And MS Dhoni Get In IPL 2025?

Shark Tank India Company Hits ₹10 Crore To ₹400 Crore Valuation In 3 Years

Key Events Of War In Syria From 2011-2024

13 Years Of War In Syria Brings To An End A Decades-Long Dynasty

IPL 2025: Strongest XIS Of All IPL Teams

Why Tom Cruise Christmas Cake Is Famous In Hollywood?

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris Reopens With Trump in Attendance

5 Places In India That Went Viral In 2024

Who Could Be France's New Prime Minister? All You Need To Know

"Tis The Season! 10 Best Christmas Markets From Around The World

The Best Photos Of The Princess Kate’s 2024 Christmas Carol Service

Nostradamus 2025: Asteroid Warning, Mysterious Outbreaks, And Other Chilling Prophecies

Smoking Linked to Increased Genetic Mutations in Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Raising Risks of Leukemia”

Kareena Kapoor Reveals Aamir Khan Was Heartbroken After Laal Singh Chaddha Flop: ‘Tu Baat Karegi Mujhse?

“New Triplet Therapies Show Promising Results for Relapsed and Newly Diagnosed Leukemia Patients”

Brazilian President Lula Undergoes Emergency Surgery After Brain Hemorrhage

CLAT 2025 Results Declared, Counselling Registration Open Until December 20

Benjamin Netanyahu Testifies In Corruption Trial

Man Loses 31 Kg While Enjoying ‘Junk Food’ In 18 Months: What’s The Secret?

Raja the Elephant Collects ‘Food Tax’ In Sri Lanka | WATCH

YesMadam Defends ‘De-Stress’ Campaign: ‘No Employees Were Fired’

Fan Kicked Out for Sandpaper Display During Heated Test: Watch

Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash ‘Dump My Ashes In Gutter Outside Court If My Harassers Are Not Punished’ | WATCH

Kurla BEST Bus Accident: ‘Driver Should Be Punished Stringently’; Victims’ Kin Plead To CM Fadnavis

Unnao rape case convict, former bjp mla sengar allowed interim bail until dec 20, agustawestland chopper scam: michel a flight risk says ed, delhi hc denies bail plea, jknc leader trying to make illegal migrants permanent citizens, alleges dogra front president, shaktikanta das bids emotional farewell as rbi governor, shares message to pm modi | watch.

Gunmen Strike In Nigeria: 50+ Women And Children Kidnapped In Brutal Raid

Malibu wildfire: santa ana winds fan blaze, forcing evacuations and threatening homes.

Jay-Z Rape Case Update: Rapper’s Lawyer Asserts Accuser Must Disclose Identity Or Dismiss Lawsuit

Kapoor family to meet pm modi for raj kapoor film festival, all we imagine as light: a triumph from cannes to golden globe nominations , salman khan shares a heartwarming moment from salma khan’s birthday | watch.

Why FDA is Poised to Ban Red 3 Artificial Dye?

What is seasonal affective disorder (sad): boosting mental health in winter, heart has its own ‘little brain’: hidden control over its own rhythm | study, do you use contact lens tips for comfortable wear during winters.

Francis Bacon on religion, fanaticism, superstition, and the social order

November 29

by Scott Culpepper Christianity , Essay , Faith , Philosophy , Religion

Alongside the clear references to the relationship between learning and religion in Francis Bacon’s (1561-1626) work appeared other comments that have given his interpreters pause. These comments implied that religion, or at least some forms of it, might pose a complication for pursuing Bacon’s inductive methods. In the Novum Organum , Bacon wrote:

Some moderns have indulged this folly, with such consummate inconsiderateness, that they have endeavored to build a system of natural Philosophy on the first chapter of Genesis, the book of Job, and other parts of Scripture; seeking thus the dead amongst the living. And this folly is the more to be prevented and restrained, because not only fantastical Philosophy but heretical Religion spring from the absurd mixing of matters-Divine and Human. It is therefore most wise soberly to render unto faith the things that are faith’s. [i]

Bacon’s use of language to hint that phenomenon associated with witchcraft and divination might stem from natural causes in The Advancement of Learning suggests that the sentiments expressed in the Novum Organum did not mark a late career change in Bacon’s thought. Bacon held a dim view of what he called “superstition” throughout his life. He walked a delicate line in Advancement when he wrote about witchcraft investigations as one area where the new science would illuminate human understanding. Bacon praised James I for his writings on witchcraft, holding the king up as a model for using every faculty at his disposal to discover the truth behind supernatural phenomenon. As the king of Scotland, James had prosecuted alleged witches with great vigor and brutality. He had ascended to the throne only two years before the publication of Bacon’s Advancement , and he was still getting to know Bacon. Bacon tread lightly in his relation to King James, heaping flattery upon flattery, in order to receive the King’s favors. Bacon’s masterstroke fell when he expressed his desire that the sort of investigation James devoted to witchcraft be applied also to other “superstitions” such as dreams, and divination. [ii] Bacon wrote, “ . . . it is not yet known in what cases, and how far, effects attributed to superstition do participate of natural causes, howsoever the practice of such things is to be condemned.” [iii] One can see in this and many other examples from Bacon’s tumultuous career that he was capable of subtle duplicity. Was he duplicitous in his claim that inductive methods would exist in harmony with religious faith?

Exploring this question well requires a better understanding of what Bacon meant when he used the term “superstition.” As indicated in the previous quote, he used it sometimes in the way twenty-first century writers would as a reference to activity produced by mystical sources beyond the natural realm. It is important to note also his further application of the term. Bacon wrote an essay “On Superstition” in which he defines the term as having an opinion of God that is “unworthy of him.” [iv] These opinions distort humanity’s image of God and lead people to adopt mistaken attitudes and actions in the name of God. They are opinions grounded on misguided and disordered explorations of religious ideas. Bacon expressed a preference for atheism above superstition in another passage that led some scholars to question whether his religious stance was genuine.

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation, all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though religion were not; but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men. Therefore atheism did never perturb states; for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking no further, and we see the times inclined to atheism (as in the times of Augustus Caesar) were civil times, but superstition hath been the confusion of many states, and bringeth in a new primum mobile , that revisheth all the spheres of government. [v]

Some aspects of Bacon’s statement need correction in light of the historical record. Later historical examples such as the Soviet Union testify that a dogmatic atheism can become as repressive  as a fanatical religious fundamentalism. Also, his comment on Augustus Caesar’s time being inclined to atheism overlooks the teeming religious diversity of the Greco-Roman world during Augustus’ reign. His main point, that fanatical religion based on “superstition” or a misapprehension of the works and character of God can destabilize human societies, continues to haunt the present age. Bacon believed that the atheist could be trusted more than the fanatic could because the atheist at least has a sense of self-preservation owing to their ethical ideals and the fact that they believe this life is the only time they have to enjoy existence. The person captivated by “superstition” erects a despotic “monarchy” that can overrule every sense of good order and human decency in the name of a perceived higher goal. [vi]

Bacon feared the destabilizing influence of religious fanaticism for good reason in an age when wars were breaking out across Europe framed by the religious affiliations of the contending parties. Spain loomed as the great threat against England during the latter years of Elizabeth’s reign. In addition to their naval forays against England in the late 1580s and 90s, the Spanish crown was engaged in acts of espionage against the English. English Catholics, most of whom were entirely innocent of conspiring against their government, were caught in the crossfire and endured being stigmatized as traitors as well as heretics. In “On Unity in Religion,” Bacon quoted the Greek poet Lucretius who reportedly wrote when Agamemnon sacrificed his own daughter, “So many evils could religion prompt.” [vii] He went on to recount the violence and social disorder prompted by religious fanaticism in his own time.

What would he [Lucretius] have said, if he had known of the massacre in France, or the powder treason in England? He would have been seven times more epicure [Epicurean] and atheist than he was, for as the temporal sword is to be drawn with circumspection in cases of religion, so it is a thing monstrous to put into the hands of the common people, let that be left unto the Anabaptists, and other furies. [viii]

Here Bacon points to the infamous Gunpowder Plot and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572 to remind his readers how much religious fanaticism had cost in terms of human life and social disorder. The memory of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt by some English Catholic nobles to blow up the king and parliament in 1605, cast a long shadow over the seventeenth century and made anti-Catholicism a patriotic cause in England. While the reforms sparked by the Reformers were good, Bacon lived at a time when people were growing weary of continuing bloodshed and strife over religious questions. They would grow wearier still as the apocalyptic Thirty Years War erupted in the German states in 1618. England descended into civil war fifteen years after Bacon’s death in part because Charles I failed to appreciate how much his subjects opposed the curtailment of their prerogatives in governance and religion.

Bacon attacked those who claimed that God endorsed their violent acts in the name of religion. It was great blasphemy when the devil said, I will ascend and be like the highest , but it is greater blasphemy to personate God, and bring him in saying, I will descend and be like the prince of darkness ; and what is it better, to make the cause of religion descend to the cruel and execrable actions of murdering princes, butchery of people, and subversion of states and governments? Surely this is to bring down the Holy Ghost, instead of the likeness of a dove, in the shape of a vulture or raven; and the set out of the bark of a Christian church a flag of a bark of pirates and assassins; therefore it is most necessary that the church by doctrine and decree, princes by their sword, and all learnings, both Christian and moral, as by their Mercury rod, do damn and send to hell forever those facts and opinions tending to the support of the same, as hath already in good part been done. [ix]

Bacon’s praise for Elizabeth’s religious toleration in The Felicity of Queen Elizabeth and Her Times obscured the extent to which she prosecuted English Separatists and Catholics in the latter years of her reign. While Bacon acknowledged these cases, he portrays them as justified for the sake of preserving unity and social order. [x] Bacon’s desire to preserve religious unity and his concerns about religious fanaticism stood in tension because the two positions raised the pressing question regarding who gets to decide the definition of fanaticism. He favored a wide latitude for religious orthodoxy within the church. Some of his comments regarding toleration of religious differences were forward-thinking probably beyond his own ability to see their ultimate implications. He wrote, “Concerning the means of procuring unity, men must beware that, in the procuring or muniting of religious unity, they do not dissolve and deface the laws of charity and of human society.” [xi]

This essay is from our Anastasis Series where we resurrect articles from the past that are either still relevant today or can be easily updated. This piece was first published on January 13, 2022, and has been lightly edited and updated.

_________________________________________ 

[i] Francis Bacon, Novum Organum in The Works of Francis Bacon , ed. and trans. Basil Montague, Philadelphia, PA: Parry & MacMillan, 1854, 351, Aph. 65.

[ii] John Channing Briggs, “Bacon’s Science and Religion,” The Cambridge Companion to Bacon , ed. Markku Peltonon, (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 180-181.

[iii] Ibid. 178-181.

[iv] Francis Bacon, Essays and New Atlantis , Ed. Gordon S. Haight (New York, NY: Walter J. Black, 1942), 71.

[vi] Ibid., 14.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Ibid., 15.

[ix] Ibid, Italics in the original.

[x] Francis Bacon, The Felicity of Queen Elizabeth and Her Times With Other Things , (London, UK: Thomas Newcomb, 1651). Copy held by the British Library. Images courtesy of EEBO.

[xi] Bacon, Essays and New Atlantis , 14.

About Post Author

Scott Culpepper

Scott Culpepper teaches history at Dordt University. He is the author of Francis Johnson and the English Separatist Influence and currently working on a historical study of Satanic panics, conspiracy theories, and spiritual warfare rhetoric in American history, politics, and popular cultures.

See author's posts

Related Essay

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Privacy Overview

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

•  We're Hiring!
•  Help Center

Religious fanaticism

• Most Cited Papers
• Most Downloaded Papers
• Newest Papers
• Fanatisism Follow Following
• Fanaticism Follow Following
• Feminsim Follow Following
• ELEŞTİREL DÜŞÜNME Follow Following
• şiddet Follow Following
• conflict in Northern Nigeria Follow Following
• Contradiction Follow Following
• Terrorism in Nigeria Follow Following
• Religious Radicalism Follow Following
• Philosophy and Religious Studies Follow Following

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• Academia.edu Journals
•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Religious fanaticism

Religious fanaticism is fanaticism related to a person's, or a group's, devotion to a religion . However, religious fanaticism is a subjective evaluation defined by the culture context that is performing the evaluation. What constitutes fanaticism in another's behavior or belief is determined by the core assumptions of the one doing the evaluation. As such, there is currently no constant academic standard for what defines a fanatical religious position.

In his book, Holy War, Just War , Lloyd Steffen says, "[Religious] fanaticism . . . invokes the idea of ultimacy, and its presence in religious life is undeniable." [1] He goes on to say, "[Religious] fanatics are persons who attach to some object an ultimate valuation and then attend to that overvalued object with what is recognizable as a kind of religious devotion." [2]

• 2 Possible Fanatic Scriptures
• 3.1 Christianity
• 3.2 Judaism
• 5 Citations
• 6 References

Features [ ]

Steffen gives several features associated with religious fanaticism or extremism. Calling it "the demonic", he says:

• The demonic meets spiritual needs ... human beings have a spiritual longing for understanding and meaning, and given the mystery of existence , that spiritual quest can only be fulfilled through some kind of relationship with ultimacy, whether or not that takes the form as a "transcendent other." Religion—even demonic religion—has power to meet this need for meaning and transcendent relationship. [3]
• Demonic religion is attractive ... because demonic religion is real religion and meets real human spiritual needs, it presents itself in such a way that those who find their way into it come to express themselves in ways consistent with the particular vision of ultimacy at the heart of this religious form. People are not attracted to demonic religion because it is false or a perversion of religion; they are attracted by all it promises to do for them, and more often than not it delivers on its promise. [4]
• The demonic is a live option ... the demonic is presents itself in competition with another way to be religious, the life-affirming option, and it sometimes wins. It wins because it is present to the moral consciousness as a live option that addresses spiritual need and satisfies human longing for meaning, power, and belonging. [5]

Possible Fanatic Scriptures [ ]

There are some who think that certain scriptures can influence fanatic and even violent behaviors. In Volume 3 of his book, The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam , J. Harold Ellens indicates a few possibly fanatic stories in The Bible.

• Story of the blind born man : Ellens speaks in depth about the story of Jesus's miraculous healing of a blind man living on the city streets. The story goes as such: Christ was walking in the city when he saw a blind man. Jesus approaches the man, applies some clay to the man's eyes like a salve, and sends the man to bathe in the pool of Siloam . [6] The man emerges from the water and is able to see. Jesus, though, is nowhere to be found. Later, the Pharisees see that this man has been healed and try to interrogate him a total of four times, asking him who had healed him and where that person was, and asking him to admit that whoever healed him was a sinner for doing so on the Sabbath. [7] The now seeing man responds, saying, in essence, "Whether my healer is a sinner, I do not know. This one thing I do know, once I was blind, now I can see". [8] Ellens finds fault in Christ in this story, saying:

It was abusive for Jesus to abandon the healed man to the assaults of the Pharisees, whose psychology was . . . taking the role of the scolding parents and putting the healed man down into the role of the naughty child. . . .The gamesmanship of the healed man does not obviate the fact that Jesus abused him, exploited him for his own purposes, abandoned him to significant persecution , and only thereafter, when all the damage was done, embraced him in a redemptive way. [9]

• Christ's cleansing of the temple : Ellens makes his case again in the story of Christ purging the temple during Holy Week , saying that during his cleansing, "Jesus had one of his fits of violence". [10] He says that Christ, in cleansing the temple, "chase[d] cattle, release[d] birds, overturn[ed] money tables, annoy[ed] legitimate assistants to the temple program, and attack[ed] the temple itself". [11] Ellens's explanation for this is:

[Christ] walked into the temple . . . trying to find a place of tranquility in which to pray and an audience with whom he could discuss the coming kingdom of God. All he could see was the hated priests in their formalistic rituals. All he could hear was the bawling of the cattle. All he could smell was the odors of the stable. . . .He cracked. He picked up a riding crop or bullwhip and . . . abuse[d] those most available, expending his long-anguished anger, his weariness with the spiritual mediocrity of human life. [12]

• Other possibly fanatic scriptures : Grant R. Shafer suggests that there are a number of teachings of Jesus that have a preoccupation with death and violence. He says, "The parable of the wicked husbandmen ends with the Lord of the vineyard killing them (Matt. 21:41; Mark 12:9; Luke 20:16). One version of the parable of the wedding feast includes the king sending his armies, killing those who murdered his servants, and burning their city (Matt. 22:6-7; Luke 14:16-24 omits these details). [13]

Popular Examples of Religious Fanaticism [ ]

Christianity [ ].

Ever since Christianity was brought to power, those in authority have sought to expand and control the church, often through the fanatical use of force. Grant Shafer says, "Jesus of Nazareth is best known as a preacher of nonviolence. Yet Christians, in persecutions of other religions, in wars about religion, and in wars of conquest, have perhaps been more violent than members of any other religion except Islam". [14] The start of Christian fanatic rule came with the Roman Emperor Constantine I . Ellens says, "When Christianity came to power in the empire of Constantine, it proceeded almost to viciously repress all non-Christians and all Christians who did not line up with official Orthodox ideology, policy, and practice". [15] An example of Christians who didn't line up with Orthodox ideology is the Donatists , who "refused to accept repentant clergy who had formerly given way to apostasy when persecuted". [16] Fanatic Christian activity continued into the Middle Ages with the Crusades . These wars were attempts by the Christians, sanctioned by the Pope , to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims . Charles Selengut, in his book Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence , said:

The Crusades . . . were very much holy wars waged to maintain Christianity's theological and social control . . . . On their way to conquering the Holy Land from the Muslims by force of arms, the crusaders destroyed dozens of Jewish communities and killed thousands because the Jews would not accept the Christian faith. Jews had to be killed in the religious campaign because their very existence challenged the sole truth espoused by the Christian Church. [17]

Shafer adds that, "When the crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, they killed Muslims, Jews, and native Christians indiscriminately". [18] Another prominent form of fanaticism came a few centuries later with the Spanish Inquisition . The Inquisition was the monarchy's way of making sure their people stayed within Catholic Christianity. Selengut said, "The inquisitions were attempts at self-protection and targeted primarily "internal enemies" of the church". [19] The driving force of the Inquisition was the Inquisitors, who were responsible for spreading the truth of Christianity. Selengut continues, saying:

The inquisitors generally saw themselves as educators helping people maintain correct beliefs by pointing out errors in knowledge and judgment. . . .Punishment and death came only to those who refused to admit their errors. . . .during the Spanish Inquisitions of the fifteenth century, the clear distinction between confession and innocence and remaining in error became muddled. . . .The investigators had to invent all sorts of techniques, including torture, to ascertain whether . . . new converts' beliefs were genuine. [20]

In addition, John Edwards, in a review of an article called "Was the Spanish Inquisition Truthful?" says, "Ferdinand and Isabella's Inquisition . . . repressed . . . the natural yearnings of . . . Jews who had converted to Christianity . . . after the attacks mounted against numerous Jewish communities in the early summer of 1391." [21]

Meriedith De Silva also published an article "Christian Fanaticism in Sri Lanka" which explained how Christian extremists are taking over Sri Lanka. She explained how Christianity made a violent introduction in Sri Lanka almost 500 years ago. Unlike Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, Christianity arrived in Sri Lanka using force. Native priests were killed, temples looted and destroyed, all in the name of Jesus. Those who refused to convert religion were harassed or even killed.

In Sri Lanka today, Christian militants are going house to house in an attempt to convert everyone to Christianity and are using whatever means necessary. Christian extremists in Sri Lanka are destroying religious harmony in order to claim Christianity as the sole religion in Sri Lanka.

During the 19th century, most Christian nations have adopted the principle of separation between church and state. Religious fanaticism is since an internal problem of the Christian churches or merely a personal (psychological) problem. However, this is not so in most modern Muslim countries (except, for example, Turkey under Ataturk .)

Charles Selengut explains in his book "Sacred Fury" that Christianly calls on the fact that they offer their body to god, just like many other religions do. Christians make many sacrifices also, as Charles Selegnut states, "[Christianity] places great value upon avoiding bodily temptations and accepting pain and sufferings as sacred activity and promises religious rewards to those who do so." He also describes the Christian "martyrdom" which is more literally referring to all who offer their life and well-being for the cause of God and religion. [22]

Judaism [ ]

In the eyes of some, some of the violent actions of the Israelites in the times of the Old Testament were fanatical in nature. Steffen describes the Holy War waged by the Israelites, along with the God of the Old Testament, Yahweh . He describes this "divinely sanctioned use of force and violence", or herem , saying:

In the herem, Yahweh seeks general destruction, as in the conquest of Canaan (Josh. 6:17-18), or even total annihilation, as in God's command to King Saul to include in the slaughter of Israel's enemies ‘man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey' (1 Sam. 15:3; 22:19). [23]

As Steffen says, this war bordered on omnicide . [24] The Israelites dealt with neighboring cities in a way that some would deem fanatical also. Paul N. Anderson says that "nearby cities were to be destroyed completely. . . .If they are not, they will corrupt the Israelites with their religion and detestable practices and will cause Israel to fall away from God." [25] In addition, he mentions that the people were told to obey Yahweh's commands completely, and, for the most part, the people obeyed. The only king that defied Yahweh during the Holy War was Saul, who preserved the flocks of the people the Israelites attacked because he didn't see a point in wasting them. [26] This, as the scriptures say, angered Yahweh, thus proving, in Steffen's eyes, that Yahweh demanded absolute obedience from his chosen people.

Perhaps Islam has come to be the most publicized religion with members who display fanatic tendencies. Ever since Osama bin Laden 's fatwa in 1998, the world has known about radical jihad . Bin Laden's concept, though, is very different from the actual meaning of the term. In the religious context, jihad most nearly means "working urgently for a certain godly objective, generally a positive one". [27] According to Steffen, there are portions of the Qur'an where military jihad is used. As Steffen says, though, "Jihad in these uses is always defensive. Not only does ‘jihad' not endorse acts of military aggression, but ‘jihad' is invoked in Qur'anic passages to indicate how uses of force are always subject to restraint and qualification". [28]

This kind of jihad differs greatly from the kind most commonly discussed today. Osama bin Laden's fatwa illustrates the goal of fanatic jihad: "In compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: the ruling to kill the Americans and their allies—civilians and military—is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it". [29] Fanatic jihadists ' beliefs, as Ellens says, stem from a feeling of inferiority to Western civilization. He says:

Because of its sense of inferiority in power and its sense of arrogant superiority in spiritual and religious quality, this militant form of Islam feels thoroughly justified in resorting to the most vicious forms of violent assault on its identified enemy. America is the perceived source and center of its problems. [30]

Thomas Farr, in an essay titled "Islam's Way to Freedom", goes further, saying that, "Even though most Muslims reject violence, the extremists ' use of sacred texts lends their actions authenticity and recruiting power". (Freedom 24) He goes on to say, "The radicals insist that their central claim—God's desire for Islam's triumph—requires no interpretation. According to them, true Muslims will pursue it by any means necessary, including dissimulation , civil coercion , and the killing of innocents". (Freedom 24)

This disregard for others and rampant use of violence is markedly different than the peaceful message that jihad is meant to employ. Although fanatic jihadists have committed many terroristic acts throughout the world, perhaps the best known is the September 11, 2001 bombings of the World Trade Center. According to Ellens, the al-Qaeda members who took part in the terrorist attacks did so out of their belief that, by doing it, they would "enact a devastating blow against the evil of secularized and non-Muslim America. They were cleansing this world, God's temple". [31]

See also [ ]

• Religious violence
• Religious terrorism

Citations [ ]

• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 81.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 119.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 120.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 121.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 5.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 8.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 9.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 12.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 16.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 29.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 32.
• ↑ Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." p. 215.
• ↑ Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." p. 193.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 42-43.
• ↑ Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." p. 236.
• ↑ Selengut, Charles. "Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence." p. 22.
• ↑ Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." p. 239.
• ↑ Selengut, Charles. "Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence." p. 70.
• ↑ Edwards, John. "Review: Was the Spanish Inquisition Truthful?." p. 352.
• ↑ Selengut, Charles. "Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence." p. 185-193.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 184.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 185.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 46.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 45.
• ↑ Steffen, Lloyd. "Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence." p. 224.
• ↑ Johnson, J. T. "Opinion, Jihad and Just War." p. 12.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 43.
• ↑ Ellens, J. Harold. "The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3." p. 35.

References [ ]

• Anderson, Paul. "Genocide or Jesus: A God of Conquest or Pacifism?" Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol 4. Ed. J. Harold Ellens. Westport: Praegers, 2004.
• Edwards, John. "Review: Was the Spanish Inquisition Truthful?" The Jewish Quarterly Review 87 (1997): 351-66.
• Ellens, J. Harold, ed. The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3. Westport: Praegers, 2004.
• Ellens, J. Harold, ed. Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol 4. Westport: Praegers, 2004.
• Farr, Thomas. "Islam's Way to Freedom." First Things 187 (2008): 24-28.
• Johnson, J. T. "Opinion, Jihad and Just War." First Things (2002):12-14.
• Selengut, Charles. Sacred Fury: Understanding Religious Violence. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.
• Shafer, Grant. "Hell, Martyrdom, and War: Violence in Early Christianity." The Destructive Power of Religion: Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Vol. 3. Ed. J. Harold Ellens. Westport: Praegers, 2004.
• Steffen, Lloyd. Holy War, Just War: Exploring the Moral Meaning of Religious Violence. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.

sv:Religiös fanatism

• 2 List of Shi'a titles for Fatima Zahra

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Novel — Religious Fanaticism in the Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

Religious Fanaticism in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

• Categories: Novel

About this sample

Words: 3486 |

18 min read

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 3486 | Pages: 7 | 18 min read

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2.5 pages / 1145 words

3 pages / 1474 words

3 pages / 1357 words

4.5 pages / 1944 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

The River Between The novel by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, The River Between, tells the story of two tribes that hold very different beliefs central to themselves. However, though they agree on very little, there are still people that [...]

In the novel The Wave by Morton Rhue (the pen name for Todd Strasser), a history teacher conducts an experiment to understand Nazi Germany's influence on its people. However, students turn against each other and terrorize those [...]

Homosexual love seems to be an impossible theme in the novels, City of Night by John Rechy and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Both protagonists from these novels have different [...]

Race, Sports, and politics are the primary ideas expressed in the American way of life. Michael Boylan, the author of Rainbow Curve, uses a group of few individual to highlight how race as an element defined a person’s [...]

Death is all around, yet very few people notice it. The poem “Out, Out–”, by Robert Frost, is about a boy that is cutting wood and due to a momentary concentration lapse, chops off his hand and bleeds to death. The people around [...]

Anguish, hope, and forgiveness may not be the first connections a person makes to the idea of birds. In her novel, Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson is able to transform ordinary birds into powerful symbols. Heavy/controversial [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• WRITING CENTER
• CUSTOMER AREA
• Client Reviews
• Our Writers
• Sample Papers
• Study Resources

Get Your Grades Improved by Our Professional Writers - We are Trusted by Thousands of Students!

Global compose inc. constantly employs professional homework writing help writers from usa, uk, ca and au. the writers are highly trained professionals, comprising of 500+ masters and ph.d level writers available 24/7. we assist clients who either have difficulty completing their assignments, sick or in need family time. to get started, submit your instructions., calculate your order price.

Use Discount Code: FIRST5 at Checkout FIRST5 -->

PRICE BEFORE DISCOUNT: $15.00

• Research Paper Help

Sample Theology Essay Paper on Religious Fanaticism

Get homework help on this topic - check the quality of writing from this sample, if you are looking for assignment help on this topic or similar topic, click on order now button to submit your details. once we have your order details, your assignment will be assigned to one of our best writers, who will then proceed to write your paper and deliver it within your specified deadline. thank you for choosing us today.

Religious fanaticism is extreme zeal in an individual’s devotion to a particular religion. In other specific situations, the enthusiasm is expressed by a group comprising many people. Currently, religious fanaticism is a persistent factor in societal activities, which often, result in undesired experiences and behaviours. Religious fanaticism is expressed in various ways in contemporary settings. Primarily, people who have unquestionable trust in a particular religion will demonstrate increased participation and involvement in activities that foster teachings of their formation at the expense of accepted norms (Martin, 2016). For instance, some individuals opt to serve their religion all their life thereby desisting from marriage. There are over three different major religious formations in the world now including Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism. Each of the stated faction has specific beliefs, which may or may not differ with those of others. Primarily, each religion is based on the sentiment that ‘do unto others what you expect them to do to you.’ However, the statement does not resonate well with all religious leaders who opt to develop other different teachings. Usually, each formation strives to capture more people. Consequently, some groups offer derogative teachings about other religions, which in turn propagate hate among members (Obi & Ukaulor, 2016). In this regard, fanaticism plays a significant role because members believe everything they are told without questioning. Therefore, it becomes possible for a single individual to influence a large number of people into believing something that is not present in scriptures. In modern times, Islam is highly associated with religious fanaticism because of its links to terrorism. For instance, from the infamous September 11 attack in the United States to the increasing suicide bombings around the world, involved Islamic formations claim that they carry out the activities as a way of doing away with non-believers. According to

RELIGIOUS FANATICISM  3 Schuurman and Horgan (2016), they believe that murdering in the name of religion is right. The belief is a classic example of how religious animatism can lead individuals astray. Ideally, religion is about peaceful co-existence between different people. Therefore, individuals who are not fanatics should be able to question religious teachings that encourage death. In conclusion, it is apparent that religious fanaticism is on the rise in modern times. Most people believe that it is wrong to question God, which leads them to accept all religious teachings. Consequently, they are unable to distinguish true teachings from false ones.

RELIGIOUS FANATICISM  4

Martin, D. (2016). The future of Christianity: Reflections on violence and democracy, religion and secularization. Routledge. Obi, C., & Ukaulor, C. S. (2016). „The Moral Questions on the Religious Basis for Terrorism “. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 5(4), 21-25. Schuurman, B., & Horgan, J. G. (2016). Rationales for terrorist violence in homegrown jihadist groups: A case study from the Netherlands. Aggression

Do you have an Assignment on a Similar or Related Topic? We can Help You Right Now! Click on the Order Now button...

Are you looking for homework writing help on this topic? This question was posted by one of our client seeking homework help.  If you are therefore looking for an assignment to submit, then click on  ORDER NOW button or contact us today. Our Professional Writers will be glad to write your paper from scratch, and delivered within your deadline. Perfect choice for your excellent grades! www.globalcompose.com.

We ensure that assignment instructions are followed, the paper is written from scratch. If you are not satisfied by our service, you can either request for refund or unlimited revisions for your order at absolutely no extra pay. Once the writer has completed your paper, the editors check your paper for any grammar/formatting/plagiarism mistakes, then the final paper is sent to your email.

Writing Features

Affordable Writing Services

Experienced Writing Team

24/7 Team of Writers

Professional E ssay Writers

Quality Measures

Trained Support Team

Non-Plagiarized Papers

Well Researched Papers

Free Writing Resources

Privacy | Confidentiality

We do not share your personal information with any company or person. we have also ensured that the ordering process is secure; you can check the security feature in the browser. for confidentiality purposes, all papers are sent to your personal email. if you have any questions, contact us any time via email, live chat or our phone number., our clients testimonials, a team of +500 masters and ph.d level homework writing help writers available 24/7 cannot get it wrong. the following are customer reviews about the quality of our services..

“Thanks for offering your professional assistance on this one. Topic was confusing but writer worked it out”

Added 24 Minutes Ago

“Thanks, I like the literature review, it is discussed in depth. Have looked at the results section and it is conclusive as I expected. Thank you”

Added 12 Hours Ago

“I like the discussion on the case study. Thank you. Am satisfied and wanted to request that same writer will handle my future assignments”

Added 30 Minutes Ago

“I was paranoid about online writing services, but on this one, the results are evident that you are much better. Will order more papers”

Added 3 Minutes Ago

“I think the paper is alright. If I can book the writer for the soon upcoming assignment, it will be great. Thanks”

Added 6 Minutes Ago

Why choose our homework writing help, we try to work as diligent as we can to help you meet your homework’s deadline. our support staff is always online 24/7 to help clarify any issues or concerns you have regarding our services. talk to us today to find out how our writers may be of help to you., customized papers, we consider your instructions and specifications in order to tailor the paper to suit your expectations., only professional writers, all our writers have a masters or ph.d and are well trained to handle assignments in various disciplines at different education levels., fast and reliable, our writers are capable of handling any assignment with short deadline and deliver without any delay, thus saving you time and energy, round the clock support, our customer support is always ready to offer real time assistance of day and night, through email, live-chat and phone., cost effective prices, we save you money with our affordable prices and huge discounts on all assignments., 100% original papers, all our papers are thoroughly researched and written from scratch. be sure of completely non-plagiarized papers., our ordering process, to get started with our homework writing help, simply click on the order now button. its easy, secure and takes less than 2 minutes to complete. the following steps illustrates the entire process., fill the order form: include all instructions and files for your assignment., submit your payment via card or paypal so that your order can be processed., a writer works on your paper and submits to editors upon completion., the completed paper is examined by our editors, then sent to your email, want to learn from experts check the writing tips below.

Final Paper Assignments

• Thesis Writing Help
• Dissertation Chapters
• Writing Research Papers
• Project Writing
• Term Paper Writing
• Speech Writing

Weekly Assignments

• Essay Writing
• Coursework Writing
• Assignment Writing Help
• Homework Writing Help
• Book Review Writing
• Movie Review Writing

Creative Assignments

• Power Points Preparation
• Analyzing Case Studies
• Creative Writing Papers
• Critical Thinking Writing
• Annotated Bibliography
• Capstone Project Writing

Admission Papers

• Writing Scholarship Essay
• Writing Admission Essays
• Writing Application Essays
• Writing Entrance Essays
• Personal Statement Essays
• Reaction Paper Writing

Samples of our Writing Illustrated Below

We have compiled a list of samples written by our writers for your review. you can use these samples to write your paper. you must however cite the source properly. if you are looking for a non-plagiarised paper, click on the order button. our professionals will work on your order. are you looking for writing tips check the list on this page. we are glad that we could help..

• Discussion Essay Homework
• Dissertation/Thesis Writing
• Book Review Paper
• Business Plan Homework
• Capstone Project Paper
• Creative Writing Homework
• Critical Thinking Homework
• Application Essay Homework
• Case Study Homework
• Literature Review Homework
• Personal Reflection Homework
• Reflection Essay Homework
• Research Proposal Homework
• Annotated bibliography Paper
• Article Review Homework
• Research Paper Homework
• Movie Review Sample
• Term Paper Sample
• Admission Essay Homework
• Argumentative Essay Paper
• Response Essay Homework

A List of Related Papers On This Category is Provided Below

• Sample Research Paper on Assessing Business Globalization
• Sample Research Paper on Effective levels of engagement that nurses can provide Communities.
• Sample Research Paper on Higher education for women in India
• Research Paper Sample on Gay Rights
• Sample Research Paper on Importance of Surveillance Cameras
• Sample Research Paper on International Marketing Manager
• Sample Research Paper on Online Learning Versus Classroom Learning
• Sample Research Paper on Down syndrome of Genetic Chromosome
• Sample Research Paper on The factors that facilitated Chinas rapid rise to the worlds second-largest economy.
• Sample Research Paper on Applying Bowenian and Structural Theories
• Sample Research Paper on John Stuart Mill (Morality and Utilitarianism) Theory
• Sample Research Paper on Creative Digital Media
• Sample Research Paper on Monsanto in Agricultural and Environmental Ethics
• Sample Research Paper on Wine Making
• Sample Research Paper on Organizational Change Management of OX Fitness Lab during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Sample Research Paper on Wealthy Nations Have a Responsibility to Provide Refugees of Other Regions of the World with Shelter
• Sample Research Paper on Drug Use and Delinquency of Marijuana
• Sample Research Paper on Leadership Styles and Employee Job Satisfaction in UAE
• Sample Research Paper on the Origin of Corona Virus (COVID-19)

Get your Homework Written by our Top-Notch Writers Now