I'm not a fanatic, I am a Christian. There is a big difference. By the way, just for the record, a person can be a fanatic about anything.

that could be a problem if they are the type who never lets up about their religious beliefs. they tend corner someone so they can quote from the bible. and they try to tell me how to live my life according to their religious beliefs. especially if they pass judgement on me and tell me I am going to Hell, that would tick me off. I would not mind discussing the bible on occasion especially if I could learn from it as long as I feel I am not being lectured. or judged.

No worse really than Athiest fanatics.

Reverend Ole was the pastor of the local Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Pastor Sven was the minister of the Swedish Covenant Church across the road. I saw them yesterday standing by the road, pounding a sign into the ground, that reads:
 
"Da End iss Near! Turn Yourself Aroundt Now! Before It's Too Late!"
 
As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"
 
From the curve we heard screeching tires and a big splash... Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, "Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say 'Bridge Out'?"

you have every right to believe in what you want to and to be able to express it in your life. its when you don't allow others to feel comfortable with it by either acting superior or overzealous.

Any type of fanatic is annoying. I don't like people telling me I'm going to hell regardless of my actions, but I don't like people being obnoxious to religious people, either. You don't have to love thy neighbor, just leave the bastard alone.

This has to be the #1 way to drive someone away. I get offended because it is like abuse of religion.

What is objectionable about extremists is not the views that they espouse, but rather it is that they show no tolerance whatsoever to competing claims. What makes them dangerous, as in the case of Islamic fundamentalists or even our own home grown variety is not what they say but rather what they think about their opponents personally. It is fine and good to disagree, but even in this time of increased polarization, I'm certain that we can find ways to respect each others views.

These people who cannot say a single sentence or give a reasoned argument without a mention of their religion, be it Christianity, Islam or whatever ,are definitely the worst. They alienate all types of people as their argument frequently gets lost in their evangelism.

I guess a lot of my response depends on how you define 'Fanatic'. But for me, a fanatic isn't someone who is devoutly religious (even though he/she CAN be). A fanatic is someone who refers constantly to scripture, biblical teachings, sermons, etc. to the point where he/she's sort of one-dimensional - not a great quality for a friend to have.

This is alienating depending on your approach. If you're calm and unintrusive about your beliefs, then it doesn't bother me. Unfortunately that doesn't go hand in hand with fanaticism. Some are loudly arrogant and bossy about their religion. i have no problem with a person's conviction- only in the way you show it.

If they are mentally ill, I will not alienate them. I will listen to them, but not convert to their religion. If they are my friends, I will still be friends with them. A lot of my friends are rock-hard Christians although I am a agnostic. But I respect my friend's beliefs or at least try to.

If a fellow Catholic tells me I'm going to hell to roast marshmellows with Pol Pot and Hitler because I got seconds on Good Friday, I'd probably try to find some other friends.

The worst of the worst; run, run. The fiercest fanatics are often selfish people who were forced, by innate shortcomings or exterior circumstances, to lose faith in themselves... though it be a faith of love and humility they adopt, they can be neither loving nor humble. (Eric Hoffer, /The True Believer/) It's especially distressing when it is someone close to you that gets this brain disease. Unfortunately it can be fatal.

When I was a college student, I was mildly offended by a well-meaning group of Christians who turned up at my campus every year to hand out Bibles. But they were nothing compared to Sister Sara. Sister Sara was a bedraggled, probably mentally ill character who showed up every so often to holler about how we fun-loving kids were headed for hell. She certainly offended us all. In your quest to lose friends and alienate people, I would suggest that you follow Sister Sara's noble example.