Does it make sense to think of fanatics as tools of a religion?

Question

Could fanatics be thought of as tools to do the dirty work in a religion where most of it's members wish to keep their hands clean of that work? Like killing off perceived threats to that religion? Or making more members of the ones who don't respond to a more gentle approach?

Answer 1

Could it be that fools who know nothing about God, apply the label 'fanatic' a little too readily when they have no qualification to determine who is right or wrong ACCORDING TO GOD WHOSE AUTHORITY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS except the Bible, **which they have not consulted?**

Answer 2

So you're saying fanatics are the mercenaries of the religious world?  Yeah, that sounds about right.

Answer 3

I will gladly be Christ's tool. That's what I'm here for after all.

Answer 4

No.

You are a member in good standing or.........not.  Otherwise you give the religion and Christians a bad name.

Answer 5

No killing is allowed in Christianity, it is a sin, but anyone who wants can be a religious person!

God Bless You

Answer 6

Maybe just tools.

Answer 7

Yes. It was on the news. 9/11

Answer 8

Yes, and feel free to substitute the word "fools" for "tools" in any context.  I'm religious, but not fanatical.

Answer 9

I think that religion is the tool of the fanatic...they use the religion to push their agendas

Answer 10

It's usually the other way around -- religion is a tool of fanatics.

Answer 11

Actually I think that it is religion that is used by the fanatics as an excuse to do their evil.

Answer 12

Yes, they are.

Islamic countries are full of fanatics, but more worryingly, America is full of right wing christians who are sick in the head.

Even Obama Biden Laden are jumping on the bandwagon.....

God help us all!

Answer 13

A religion isn't something which has got an existence of its own, so no.

Answer 14

you arent the judge of anyone and need to think before posting. We arent tools. We are ppl. Amazing huh? Most of us arent fanatics. How old are you?

b89

Answer 15

Fanatics are simply tools for THEIR OWN causes and justifications. Often, they do not care what their scriptural texts have to say with many issues, all they care about is furthering their own agendas which are usually contrary to overall beliefs. Like the Taliban mandating that women can't show any part of her body-- where is that in the Koran? All the Koran says is that a women should keep hijab, or modesty, and cover their hair. But even that decision is between a woman and her God.

Fanatics are still people regardless and only care about their own agendas.

Answer 16

I would disagree because by observation religion is only one fetish of zealots. Fanatics seem to be a case of people that are given to behavior that involves extreme obsessions which can involve more than religion as a focus.  

Answer 17

What about fanatics who have no religion?  It would make no sense at all to think of them as tools of religion. Don't you agree?