Fanaticism

When John Boehner resigned last week, a sizable number of his party clapped and shouted how they were glad to get rid of him.  Most of them professed Christian faith, or (in my opinion) pseudo-Christian fanaticism.  UGLY!

I got to thinking about fanatics.

• Our far right fanatics.  
• Islamic fanatics.  
• Iranian fanatics.
• ISIS fanatics.
• Jewish fanatics.  
• Hindu fanatics.  
• Communist fanatics.  
• Fanatics who support a team or school.
• North Korean fanatic leaders and generals - fanatics!
• National Rifle Association fanatics. 

To name a few.  

What is the attraction in fanaticism?  What makes fanatic behavior more appealing than reasoned discourse, thoughtfulness, courtesey and useful leadership?

I suggest if feels good to push boundaries.
It feels good to abandon reason.  Thinking is hard.
It feels good to be "against", probably better than being "for".
It feels good to feel like you stand for something.
It feels good to believe you finally have a purpose.
It feels good to exclude people -- those "others" who support a different team or religion or point of view.
It's easy.

It takes hard thinking, difficult deciding, chancy conversations, and time to figure out what is best in this situation.  Then working for what is possible that includes at least some of the best is harder still.
It also feels right to feel like a victim, and most fanatics feel like victims.  Poor them.

It's hard work being a grownup.  Leave fanaticism to high school cheer leaders.  Assume your place in the world of adults -- real adults, not just people over 18 or 21.

Leave a comment if you have any thoughts about fanaticism.