Fanatics & their Causes
From a letter to a friend :
Dear _____________
You mentioned a concern about fanaticism. This may well be a valid concern. I'm sure this is one of _____'s concern.
However, I will take exception to this. "Fanaticism" is an abstract concept therefore we cannot condemn or affirm it without some qualifiers.
Should we be "fanatacal" about the greatness of our favorite college football team ? Obiously not. Should we be fanatical about the greatness of Christ ? No one can possibly be "fanatical" enough.
Should we be fanatical about experimenting on animals, eating meat, or wearing fur ? I think not, because it doesn't violate God's Law.
What if, instead, the issue was experimenting on the kids at the local day care, eating human flesh, and "recycling" leftovers from the local morgue ? This would be so repugnant and wicked that we would be cowards if we weren't "fanatical" about stopping it.
Were the fanatical abolitionists wrong about their views on abolishing all forms of slavery immediately ? I think they were, again, because it doesn't violate God's Law.
Was the fanatical Virginia legislature wrong for outlawing the slave trade because of the violations of God's condemnation of man stealing and excesses by the New Englanders ? I think they were correct.
Roy McMillan and I were talking about this one day & he made a statement that I think is very interesting, if not profound.
Roy said, "There aren't any statues built to great moderates in history."
You and I have often noted that men like John Adams, Rushdoony, and Robert Welch all made statements about history not being determined by majorties, but by dedicated minorites with a plan/ cause/ etc
These minorites were made up of ( or at least begun by) fanatics fighting a hopeless cause.
Let us consider some people who could be called fanatics & their moderate counterparts:
Republicans are reasonable moderates - Constitutionalists & Libertarians are fanatics.
The SCV is moderate & reasonable -- the League of the South is fanatical
National Right to LIfe is moderate -- Operation Rescue is fanatical.
Looking further back, let us consider fanatics ( some of which were evil & stood for evil causes):
Joe Stalin was a murderous fanatic that brought us Communism.
Joe McCarthy was called a fanatic due to his uncompromising stands against Communism.
Reasonable moderates perpetuated Communism and condemned McCarthy's "fanaticism" while ignoring Stalin's.
John Brown was a murderos fanatic who's zeal for an unbiblical cause and messianic visions led to many deaths.
Some of Stonewall Jackson's men considered him a fanatic because of his zeal for the Biblical Messiah and whose devotion to duty and Cause led to his own death.
Radical Republicans in the North during the 1850's, 60's and 70's were dangerous fanatics.
Radical Secessionists in the South during the 1850's & 60's and those who began the Klan to fight Reconstruction abuses were also fanatics.
Charles Finney was a fanatic.
But, so were Whitfield, Wesley & Edwards in many people's minds then & now.
The Radicals who led the French Revolution were murderous, fanatical god-haters. They ultimately devoured themselves in their zealous fanatcism against the abuses of the Elites in the Catholic/ Nobility establishment. ( and incidently it was fanatical, valliant Catholic Vendeans who stood against them; and racical, fanatic Catholic butchers who had slaugthered fanatical Huegenots a century before).
The Founding Fathers of the American Republic were certainly considered fanatical by many in their time.
Reasonable moderates in England opposed the fanatics in Frace & the American colonies.
The Pilgrams, Puritans, & practically every true missionary that ever lived could be qualified, based on some definitions as fanatics.
Luther, Knox, and Calvin would meet some critereon of fanaticism.
Martyrs who were tortured to death for what they believed have often been "fanatics".
Muslim Jihadists and Hindus that set theirselves on fire are fanatics.
Early Mormons and many cultist who have been persecuted and even given their lives for a lie have all been fanatics.
Millions of soldiers have died throuh the ages because they fanatically belived they were defending their homes or fighting for something they believed to be true/ righteous. The vast majority of them were killed fighting for tyrants and leaders who lusted for power/ money.
John the Baptist was a fanatic.
Elijah was a fanatic.
And Jesus Christ was/ is certainly a fanatic. So fanatical in fact that He refuses to share His glory with anyone and will ultimately grind into powder all those who oppose Him.
Many fanatics we should correct and condemn. Others, we should probably seek to emulate.
Leslie
Moderates and Radicals
by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
In all times of state dominance, the instability of the system gives rise to two types of reformers: the moderates who want to work within the system but end up defending it, and the radicals who have the clarity to see that the only real solution is upheaval. If the latter prevail – and they often have in the history of politics – it is only after having endured the slings and arrows of the former.
The history of liberty is strewn with heroes who courageously championed radical reform, but in every case I can recall, these same people were traduced and reviled not only by the regime, but also by the moderate reformers, who always claimed to be working within the system. The moderates say that their efforts are being frustrated by the voices of the radicals, who are said to discredit the cause they purport to support. . . . Read the rest of this article here
