# what major religion has the least extream extreamists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 15, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553 "2003-03-15T06:59:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553/41 "2003-03-17T09:00:58Z")
It certianly does John. I would call it a ‘major’ religion based on the following cite from [Religious tolerance.org](http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_nbr.htm) which puts the estimated number of Wiccans at about 750,000 in the US. Could be more, and likely is, since there is such persecution (whether real or imagined) facing pagans and neo-pagans, which could cause a person not to claim wicca or paganism as their religion. I realize there is a difference, but the point is for the sake of illustration only. Take Zoroastrianism for instance…I’m not sure Zoroastrianism, despite it’s often visited ideals could be considered major either, it’s considerable impact on todays’ society aside. “Zoroastrianism is a small religion with about 140,000 members” (from religious [tolerance.org](http://tolerance.org)) It’s all about, as you so elloquently stated, your definition of ‘major’. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553/42 "2003-03-17T21:47:29Z")
As a Unitarian Universalist, I find extremism and fanaticism abhorrent. (Why should you never piss off a Unitarian? He’ll burn a question mark on your lawn!) As a Pagan, I follow the Wiccan Rede: An’ it harm none, do what you will! As a SubGenius, however, I regard all unsaved Pinks and Normals as worthless, screaming meat to feed my slavering Slackpetites!Praise “Bob” and pass the A-1 sauce! ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553/43 "2003-03-18T07:46:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Radon \* > **Do atheists count in this debate?** > The extreme form of atheism was Communism, and they killed plenty. Where did you get the idea that atheism is a religion? ---
**Author:** ![martin\_ibn\_martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@martin\_ibn\_martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martin_ibn_martin)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553/44 "2003-03-31T05:26:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*Pardon my ignorance, but are Unitarians not Christians? \*\* Some of them are 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553/45 "2003-03-31T05:54:01Z")
Don’t forget that in Sri Lanka, the mostly Hindu Tamil Tigers have committed more suicide bombings than all the rest of the world’s terrorist groups combined, killing many thousands. I don’t know if you could call them **religious** extremists, though; they aren’t “fighting for” Hinduism per se, but for an ethnically and linguistically separate Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. Rioting “Hindu communalists” in India are probably more along the lines of what you’re thinking of. And don’t forget that it was majority-Buddhist oppression and violence that largely contributed to the formation of the Tamil Tigers in the first place. Again, though, I’m not sure it counts as specifically **religious** extremism. But it illustrates that both Hinduism and Buddhism can indeed harbor violent extremist groups. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-major-religion-has-the-least-extream-extreamists/161553.md?page=2)