Do you think it's possible for someone to be "too religious"? If so, what does it mean to be too religious? What are its characteristics?
Yes I do. However it is not limited to religion.
An indvidual who in this case is accused of being too religious is one who allows him/herself to be totally consumed with the particular religion of his/her choice(which may have been forced upon the individual by the parents).
I knew a man who lived his life as such. Conversations became biblical epics ! He became fanatical and told those of us who didn't share the same religion and beliefs that hell was our destination - unless we repented.
The sad fact now ithat he has no friends. We became tired of his dogmatic requests sucg as repenting ! If we admired a womans legs he would quote scripture and destroy the moment(I'm a leg man and have always been so).
Classic cult behaviour. i think most religions are 'soft' cults.
One of my friends' was a former monk who told us how they would fight over the new monks(novices)as to whoms bed they were sharing ! The rest i'm sure you can imagine !
The nuns(Ireland) were also guilty of a variety of crimes including, but not limited to murder. They would sell the newly arrived babies to rich folk from around the world.
But this can happen in peoples jobs - such as the army and police. The military has a lage say on this matter. In the military they have a name for it - army barmy.