just a little rant...

There is nothing good about fanaticism. It doesn't matter what the person believes in, but fanatics of any belief are the cause of the most terrible atrocities that have befallen the human race. The Spanish Inquisition, the Klu Klux Klan, the holocaust, 9-11, are a few grand examples of global fanaticism that have stained this world with blood. Any hate crime toward any person, is another example of fanaticism that should never be accepted in society, yet they occur at an almost regular basis. What the hell?

While passion in your beliefs, is healthy, it is also healthy to understand where other people are coming from and to show respect for their beliefs and allotment in life as well. Respect is important, if any argument or debate stems from anything else other than respect, (arrogance, ignorance, or hate), then all paths of this world will fall into a ocean of blood and pain. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then fanatics are the one's that decided bypass the road all together and try flying Satan's no frill airline—Air Hell.

Anyone that believes all means justify the ends, then their can be no positive growth. No one likes to be told what to do, talked down to, threatened or attacked. History has proven that, under these situations, people will fight back and deservedly so. But the question is—are these people that are fighting back against fanaticism, fanatics themselves? I guess it depends on where they are coming from, but as long as they are coming from a place of respect and fighting injustice, then no.

As a scientist I have seen fanatics within the science community and without. Any scientist that scoffs at someone's religious beliefs, I feel is a fanatic. Science is about discovery; it's about the search for knowledge. It is not about disregarding things that science doesn't understand. Not believing in creationism doesn't mean it doesn't exist, even if we can't measure it through science. On the flipside, evolution could have occurred as well. A lot of scientific evidence supports the theory of evolution, although the evidence is incomplete and further research needs to be done. Personally I cannot attest to whether one theory of creation is more accurate than the other. Maybe everyone is wrong, and this whole thing we call creation was simply my own personal psychotic break. Whatever, it doesn't matter.

Fanaticism and arrogance doesn't fit in the science community anymore than it does anywhere else. With that, there is also a strong anti-science fanaticism that is occurring throughout the world. I feel that there is a strong perception that scientists are trying to disprove and disavow people's beliefs. This is simply not true. Scientists are striving to study the world and the universe in a more or less unbiased tangible way. This doesn't always succeed as we are all human, bias and prejudice occurs everywhere (like the jackass stupid remarks by James Watson), but in general we strive for knowledge. To be anti-science, is to be anti-progress and pro-ignorance. Ignorance is not bliss. Sadly, there are many groups, religious and otherwise that will abuse peoples ignorance, using manipulative techniques to control the thoughts and beliefs of their followers, something that has been occurring since the beginning of time. One example of this type of group is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). I am are for ethical animal treatment and if one day we can completely do away with animal testing, I am all for it, but as of now, animal testing is very important, to a degree in research. The approaches of this group are borderline harassment and borderline terrorist. PETA's recruiting methods can be as bad as any extreme group; often going after children as recruitment prospects. An example of this can be observed with PETAkids.com or wearing cute costumes near playgrounds and schools (an example of this could be seen in the HBO special I am Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA). While I'm not attacking the beliefs of PETA at all, PETA has done some good but it also has done some harm. Also any group with an approach to recruit kids, often at a very impressionable, an age before the children know better, before they are old enough to make an informed decision or be able to make a proper debate or even question things. Sadly I feel if any dogma needs to take such means to pull children into a group, it may not be a very strong belief at all. This is a tactic often used by many groups, not only PETA such as the tobacco companies.