Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
Moderate religious people of various faiths appear to tend to disassociate extreme views from their own. They seem to write it off as something separate from their views and having no influence on the way the view their religion. However, is this actually the case?
Do extremists take the same view? Or, do they believe they can influence moderates to accept their more "correct" views through their actions and words?
Either way, whatever social dynamic one looks at, there appears to be a tendency for the middle to be slowly pulled by the extremes. Is it dangerous for moderates to simply assume that they are not affected by the extreme?
Additionally, is there some level on which the middle identifies with the extremists, and as the extreme gets more extreme, what they accept, and identify with also gets more extreme?
Do extremists take the same view? Or, do they believe they can influence moderates to accept their more "correct" views through their actions and words?
Either way, whatever social dynamic one looks at, there appears to be a tendency for the middle to be slowly pulled by the extremes. Is it dangerous for moderates to simply assume that they are not affected by the extreme?
Additionally, is there some level on which the middle identifies with the extremists, and as the extreme gets more extreme, what they accept, and identify with also gets more extreme?