This is not a proper definition, but rather my opinion. To me, a religious extremist is one who will use their religion to hurt or oppress another in the name of said religion.
I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and went to a school where paddling kids was like some kind of weird perverted religious sacrament. When I had kids of my own I sent them to a school that didn't use physical violence as a means of discipline. Both my kids grew up to be well adjusted and...
If the USA stops propping them up with an unlimited supply of weapons and taxpayer dollars that could better be spent here at home on our own people, I think this would stop rather quickly.
I do believe in God. I also believe that man's religions are our fumbling attempts to understand the creator. I also believe that we fall agonizingly short in our efforts.
I have a good friend from Ireland. He sympathizes with the Palestinian people very much. He says that the Irish people can relate to what the Palestinians have been subjected to since 1948. Jimmy Carter had the courage when he was president to call it what it was. Apartheid.
I think you're right. I've seen video of that Lubavich Rebbe telling him that he needs to be doing more to hasten the coming of their messiah. Crazy stuff.