No Maybe About It, I'm A Fanatic

The following was a comment left on my friend Rachael's blog.

louis said...

Please, respect my right to post my opinin here, do not delete this post.

"There is nobody as enslaved as the fanatic, the person in whom one impulse, one value, has assumed ascendancy over all others."

- I wish there were some cure, like the lover's leap, for all heads of which some single idea has obtained an unreasonable and irregular possession.
- As any action or posture long continued will distort and disfigure the limbs; so the mind likewise is crippled and contracted by perpetual application to the same set of ideas.
- Fanatical religion driven to a certain point is almost as bad as none at all, but not quite.
- Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.
- The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.

And I conclude:

"There is no place in a fanatic's head where reason can enter." - Napoleon Bonaparte

10:41 am

Rachael replied to him in an entry on her blog and asked for others' opinions. My opinion is way too long for a comment so I'm posting it here.


I don't think being a fanatic is necessarily bad. The word fanatic comes from the Latin word fanaticus inspired by deity. The definition of deity is one exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful. That is exactly what God is.

Louis says: "There is nobody as enslaved as the fanatic, the person in whom one impulse, one value, has assumed ascendancy over all others."

I am enslaved to God the Father. He is my one impulse and value that has assumed ascendancy over all other things in my life.

-Living for God is a "single idea." Jesus didn't say I am one of the ways or I am one of truths."Jesus answered, 'I am the the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.'" - John 14:6
-Putting your muscles through daily training of the same action will build more muscle. The same goes for the mind. Putting your mind in the word daily builds wisdom. "Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:7-8
-Religion: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with devotion and faith. I don't think you can have a religion without being a fanatic. If you are not that devoted to your cause, then it's not religion. If you place something else at an equal position to your cause it is not devotion."No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." - Matthew 6:24a
-The beauty of God's grace is that when we do struggle and fall away he is willing to take us back. This is not to say that we should not strive to remain in God's will at all times. I have fallen away, but God has taken me back and I am stronger because of his grace."However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." - Acts 20:24
-God calls us to seek him sincerely. So I find sincerity to be one of my greatest attributes. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

Louis says: "There is no place in a fanatic's head where reason can enter." - Napoleon Bonaparte

When God is in your life there is no reason outside of him. Therefore, there is no place in my head where reason, other than Jesus Christ, can enter. So yes, I am fanatic for Jesus Christ my loving Savior.