Website owner:  James Miller

Religious fanaticism

   God expects all who follow him to be sensible, sober, honest and 
   reasonable.  This is an attribute of true Christianity.  We are 
   on dangerous ground when we allow ourselves to become so 
   carried away with something, so fanatical, and so out of 
   balance that we no longer look at things fairly, reasonably and 
   honestly.  Could this fact point out a significant fault of 
   fanatical Baptists, Pentecostals and other radical evangelical 
   groups?  They become so carried away, so out of balance and 
   fanatical that they don't look at things fairly and honestly;  
   they are dishonest with themselves, with God, and with the 
   people around them;  they twist and distort scripture to their 
   own purpose and preset views; they don't treat it honestly;  
   they constantly "psych" themselves, try to tell themselves 
   things, try to bolster themselves up;  and they are constantly 
   having to plug up the holes in the dike of their self-delusions 
   by rationalization. 

   Nov 1976