Terry Mitchell

A Rebirth of Fanaticism?



Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010

by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com

Is it just me or does it seem like people on both sides of the political aisle are more fanatical than ever about their views? Perhaps this has been brought on by our current economic climate and/or by the fact we have been engaged in two wars for nearly seven years.
 
Whatever the cause, I find this development downright scary. In fact, things have gotten so bad now that you don't even have to turn on MSNBC to find left-wing fanatics or Fox News to find right-wing fanatics. They are everywhere!
And it's not just political polarization I'm talking about. Each side seems to believe that its adherents can do no wrong while the adherents to the opposite side can do no right. They have little tolerance for dissenting views and appear content to listen only to those would reinforce their own beliefs.  They act as if they cannot possibly be wrong – about anything. This, of course, is illogical. But that's the nature of fanaticism.  Any kind of thinking that is not subject to logic and reason can be defined as fanaticism.

When accused of being a religious fanatic, my father would always respond by saying, "I'd rather be fanatical about religion than many of the other things people are fanatical about." However, one is better off not to be fanatical about anything. I just wish more people would start coming to that conclusion.


Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, amateur political analyst, and blogger from Virginia, USA. He posts a least one article a day to his blog - http://commenterry.blogs.com - on subjects such as current events, politics, technology, society and culture, religion, health and well-being, self improvement, personal finance, trivia, and sports. He is also the owner of a new privacy-enhanced search engine - http://www.SearchMost.com.

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Michael Ramzy
 2 years 136 days ago.
49 fans.
Very nicely said. Part of the reason is the remote-control mentality, where if something isn't to someone's liking a button is pushed. Passion about anything is one thing, but you're right about fanaticism.
» left by Terry Mitchell 2 years 136 days ago.
93 fans.
Michael, I couldn't agree more. Thanks for reading and commenting.
» left by Olufemi Ladeinde
 2 years 136 days ago.
9 fans. Follow Olufemi Ladeinde on twitter!
Fanaticism is borne out of fear. I don't have to fight for my God. He is more than able to fight for Himself! The other thing though is it breeds an intolerance that is scary. I don't have to agree with you but I should still be able to see any good sense you do make. All I can say is that it is a disease of the age, and it will get worse before it gets better! God help us all.
» left by Terry Mitchell 2 years 136 days ago.
93 fans.
Olufemi, I would have to say (unfortunately) that you are probably right. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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