We seem to be prone to fanaticism. I'm not sure why. Religious is not the only type, just one of many. I suppose it's akin to addiction. Can we override these with the intellect? Sometimes I'd guess. More likely not just with the intellect, but with help from others. Fanaticism is scary though, so I'm in awe of the helpers. Anybody here climb out of that pit or help someone else?
I wonder if we are a victim of our environment.
I don't see myself as a fanatic. I don't recall my parents being fanatical about anything. Haven't been around fanatical people.
So luck? I did make an active choice not to be around fanatics. If I had been, maybe I'd be a fanatic too.
Well, now I avoid fanatics because I find them annoying.
If not for the grace of.. um "God", there go I?
I've seen really smart people do really stupid things. I don't see intellect alone being able to overpower this.
Helpers? I suspect the best helpers would be those who were past fanatics and for whatever reason became non-fanatic. Whatever events caused them to begin to question their fanaticism. Not having been a fanatic, not having been exposed to it, I don't think I'd be much help.