Affection and The Fanatic

[karmaradical]

Over the past few weeks i have been observing certian ideas within society. Today its pretty obvious that religious fundamentalism (and even political) is quite popular. Society seems to be over run by the fanatic ideal. It made me question what creates the fanatic, and i think i may have the answer.

The fanatic is someone who devotes themselves to and ideal, and does so in an extreme manner. This kind of devotion seems to always be towards an ideal that holds a certain trait-love, brotherhood, compassion. Even though the methods they use in this extremism can seem violent, they are still fighting for something that they beleive will bring about a sort of brotherhood and love. In other words-they will be love.

The fanatic is fighting for something that she/he does not have. I truly beleive that this missing trait is love and affection. Because they are lacking affection from loved ones or perhaps lovers, they put their energy into ideas that they beleive will return love. This can be Jesus, Allah, or even the universal utopia of communism. Fanaticism seems extremly dangerous, in that the fanatic rarley recieves this affection, and usually ends up wasting much energy. So what is the suicide bomber, the guerilla, the priest, and even the abortion protester missing? I say love. When we lack love and affection in one place, we search for it a place where it doesnt always exist.

[Ownthink]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2005, 04:41 PM
Over the past few weeks i have been observing certian ideas within society. Today its pretty obvious that religious fundamentalism (and even political) is quite popular. Society seems to be over run by the fanatic ideal. It made me question what creates the fanatic, and i think i may have the answer.

The fanatic is someone who devotes themselves to and ideal, and does so in an extreme manner. This kind of devotion seems to always be towards an ideal that holds a certain trait-love, brotherhood, compassion. Even though the methods they use in this extremism can seem violent, they are still fighting for something that they beleive will bring about a sort of brotherhood and love. In other words-they will be love.

The fanatic is fighting for something that she/he does not have. I truly beleive that this missing trait is love and affection. Because they are lacking affection from loved ones or perhaps lovers, they put their energy into ideas that they beleive will return love. This can be Jesus, Allah, or even the universal utopia of communism. Fanaticism seems extremly dangerous, in that the fanatic rarley recieves this affection, and usually ends up wasting much energy. So what is the suicide bomber, the guerilla, the priest, and even the abortion protester missing? I say love. When we lack love and affection in one place, we search for it a place where it doesnt always exist.
No. Seems some new-age bullshit. We don't "lack love" and we don't need love. Fanatics are fanatics because they are simply fed up with the way things are and they have tried peaceful methods of brining about change, only to find them useless, that is why they turn to bomb and bullet to make change.

And sometimes, it works.

[karmaradical]

So many of the fanatics i have come across seem to have psychological issues. Many seem depressed and lonely. I also see radical beliefs as different from fanatic.

[Monty Cantsin]

How do you define your dichotomy between people of radical beliefs and Fanatics?

Your thesis is interesting because the Russian nihilist preached that one should have absolute devotion to revolution and shun or other activities not taken in its achievement. Thus they thought that true revolutionaries should not engage in sexually relationships, loveless bar for their revolution.