There’s no harm in supporting or really admiring one’s favourite actor, athlete or musician. But what happens when your enthusiastic admiration turns into a deadly obsession? A fan is someone who shows every enthusiastic support for
or interest in an activity or a famous person. A fanatic is someone who displays almost extreme behaviour and enthusiasm towards the hobby or person … an attitude which could become overwhelming or even obsessive.
Anyone could potentially become fanatical about something they love or “idolise”. We commonly see people following those they like or admire and eventually idolising them. This attitude starts with finding a favourite musician, actor or sport.
How easy is it for a fan to become a fanatic? Easy. It all begins with being a supporter. They show enthusiasm, their love for someone or something. Fans continue paying attention to what they favour. Some start fan clubs or conversations, imitate their idols, put up their images on their cell phones, computers, and in posters in their rooms. Being preoccupied with role models or idols can lead people to not appreciating themselves, but desiring to be like their idol.
“Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 26:1
An idol can be anything from the person you imitate enthusiastically to the pictures on the walls of your room of the actor or musician you admire so much. To idolise a person or an image is a form of worship of an image or object.
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” Exodus 20: 3-5
Adoring images or people is also a form of worship performed by those who have reverence towards any form of that object or person. This is how far some go from being a fan to becoming a fanatic — adoring others above God Himself.
By: Nomsa Masengemu