Religious Fanaticism

There is a tenuous difference between believing-your-faith and self-praising-as-the-truest. I have been observing this phenomenon since I was adolescence. So many individuals I used to amaze at, as they had been struggling for what they thought were right. There is completely nothing wrong with the idea of being firm and still to our very own basic values. Particularly, values we were born and grown with: religion. But when it turned to excessively admire ourselves while ignoring others, I found it as a nonsensical behavior. 

There is a memorable life-episode of mine that is always exposed when I bring about this topic. For a sample purpose, let just say Mr X who used to live in the same lodging house with me. We both embrace the same religion. On a random day and due to a random cause, He delivered a “sermon” to me and ended up by handing out a Xeroxed paper. What was written on the paper was unforgettably ridiculous where he claimed as a member of a supreme sect [based on its followers]. The sect proclaimed itself as the one-and-only sect deserved for heaven. I decided to stop talking to him for months as I kept asking myself: “Have they got a Guarantee Letter from God about permanent-heaven-residency?

 At this point, I think it is important to disclaimer myself as “Not a liberal agnostic or atheist who would tarnish the purity of certain religions”. I am now embracing a religion and never convert ever since I was born. I am just motivated to spit out my five cents.

 Religious fanaticism is something at which I have genuinely no problem, as long as it does not violate others. It is disturbing to find out a female classmate of mine once surprisingly asked me to move to other desks. She did so because she thought it was religiously forbidden to be in a close distance with an opposite sexed individual. I really [wanted to] respect the values she was holding on, but why should I move as there were many other chairs unoccupied in class?.

 Another story went on when I was living in religious vicinity. This area was over populated where having a yard around a house was almost impossible. Long story short, one of my neighbors was dead, and I sent his family a deep condolence. According to his religion, praying rituals in seven consecutive days have to be performed. Since no space to host all the prayer congregation members, the public road in front of the house was closed for seven days. In fact, there is a worshipping premise just 50 meters away. Another question popped up my mind: why should they insist to close the road for days and force people to take longer route? They could actually use the worshipping premise since it was unused every time they had praying congregation. Didn’t they realize they were violating others’ right? I did not even bother to speak up, as I believe I will get shut up if I do so.

 There is not much solution for these phenomena but “Respect”. Please be concerned that religion is something holy. It will not let its followers to be interfering and obstructive to others. We are living in a place called Earth, where all religions were born on it. So, as long as we are still living on Earth, please share it to all. Remember, being faithful is one thing, but being respectful is another thing.