Fanaticism.

Fanaticism ... beyond rationality.

Feeling the passion for something is extremely positive because it leads us to achieve our goals, but when it becomes an uncontrolled obsession goes to the negative side.

Extreme fanaticism has existed for many years, throughout history to the present, many cases have been known where a person or a group of people perform irrational acts damaging others.

"When fanaticism has hardened the brain, the disease is almost incurable." Voltaire.

 

The word fanaticism is made up of fan: which refers to an enthusiastic follower of a person or thing in particular; and by ism: this term refers to a doctrine or belief. So it can be said that fanaticism is the vehement pursuit and defense of a person, doctrine or religion in an extremely passionate way, losing any critical sense, breaking the barriers of the rational, leading people to take actions that can threaten even against common sense and is characterized mainly by defending and exacerbating one's position against any contrary opinion, attacking the democratic values of dialogue and tolerance. On the other hand, a person becomes fanatic if he feels totally identified with that doctrine or institution which follows.

Types of fanaticism:

• Religious: In this type of fanaticism is in which a determined dogma, sacred books or gods to an extremely dangerous point is defended. This is one of the oldest and most controversial.

• Politician: A political party that usually has a charismatic leader is defended, and it is where people find the total and absolute sense of their life, taking the cause as their own and sustaining it to the ultimate consequences.

• The idealization of a person: Fanaticism to a particular person, whether an actor, musician, group or any celebrity, where fans follow and admire this person's lifestyle or way of thinking and, in some cases, imitate some of its characteristics to be able to resemble the life of this person.

• Sports: In this case, fanaticism can have certain negative consequences because many times, they lead to violent acts of various kinds among them because almost automatically by following a certain team the fan will be against the others.

• Antireligious: Anti-religious fanatics can also lead to violent consequences because they manifest their discontent and can lead to clashes between them.

We must be very clear that as unique people and thinkers we have our own ideas and respect for them is of utmost importance for human coexistence, we can agree or disagree, but without affecting third parties and not reach extremes and violence. 

"Who does not want to think is a fanatic, who can not think is an idiot, who does not dare to think is a coward". Francis Bacon.