I just wonder how seriously Joe Boucher takes his religion. He seems to think that ALL religious fanatics, regardless of their religious beliefs, are nuts.
Most religious hospitals were founded by religious fanatics. Most street missions are run by religious fanatics. Most of the world wide charities are run and funded by religious fanatics.
You have to be somewhat of a fanatic to give up your own time and money and often your own life and devote it to the service of other people in the name of God.
Maybe Mr. Boucher can define for us what he means by "religious fanatic". If it is simply someone who takes their religion seriously, then I would hate to live in a world where nobody was a religious fanatic.
Mr. Boucher, if you were walking in a really bad neighborhood and you saw a group of 20 something men standing on the corner in front of you, would you feel better knowing that these guys were not religious at all or would you feel better knowing that they had all just come out of a Church service?
One fairly good definition of a religious fanatic is someone who feels compelled to do what God would do if He knew all the facts. :)
I personally believe someone can build their life around their religion and not be a fanatic. I define the fanatic as someone who feels they must try to impose their religious opinions on others.
...or a mosque?