That is not so difficult to understand. The fools and fanatics are brainwashed into hoping for some kind of reward or event in the future (heaven, return of jesus, rapture, etc). They are always living for the future and miss everything that is right under their nose. They do not question their beliefs or way of life and call this faith or belief. They will try to convince themselves that they are right by preaching and convincing others and the more people who believe like them, the more they are convinced. It is as if truth can be realized in groups and numbers. They think that if more people believe then it has to be true. They become fanatical about their beliefs and what their so-called scriptures say.
The wiser and more intelligent people will doubt and question because life is always changing and man's understanding is also changing. This is why the wise will doubt something that is not a part of his present reality. The wise will see that this present reality is the only think they have to work on. They will improve themselves rather than trying to convince others to follow them or believe in something like they do. The wise accepts mistakes or errors and will not blame some satan or god. They will try not to make the same mistake again instead of blaming it on their sinful nature and asking some god to free them from the sins they commit.
The wise realize and accept their humanity, the fools use their humanity to blame themselves and others.
The wise call it human experience, the fools call it sinful nature.
The wise depend on their own understanding and beliefs, the fools depend on the experience and teachings of somebody else.
The wise sees that he is fully and entirely responsible for his life and will strive to do the best he can, the fool puts the responsibilty on god or a saviour and to escape responsibility, puts the blame on sin or satan.

"Once you accept all your responsibilities in its totality,
you become mature.
You stop throwing tantrums and
you stop seeking messiahs.
Then there is no need for any Jesus to save you.
Nor can any Jesus save you -
he was exploiting your situation." --- Osho

Are you saying that people who are sure about their faith and religion are fools and fanatics ?

By being so judgmental you have already answered your own question. Those traits/characteristics (Foolishness & Fanaticism VS Wisdom) explain the behavior of both sides...

Pointless topic.

Je grimperai sur l'espace lumineux,
Je traverserai l'esprit de la terre,
Je cheminerai dans la lumière
Et j'atteindrai l'étoile.

There are fools and fanatics in every religion and in every other belief. But being certain of themselves is not just something that belongs to them. There are many wise people (again, in every religion and belief) that are very sure of themselves too. But they don't reach the extremisms of fools'n fans That's what makes them wise.

\"There is no way to happiness...Happiness is the Way...\"(Buddha)

lol, The reason I have this as my signature sentence is because we all are very solid of our convictions either for or against beliefs, but as humans doubt aways plays a part in our lives.

The un-inspirational behavior of others determines our willingness to believe their words. Their life and truths then become like wind, collecting dust in its passing. -lea

If we see a person filled with doubt we say he is wise
If we see a person who thinks he knows all the answers we say he is a fool
If we see a person defend his knowledge of all the answers we say he.s a fanatic

They're just words. It's got little to do with religion and much to do with the definitions we give to fools fanatics and the wise.

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

If we see a person filled with doubt we say ,He is wise.. ...Who is we? and why should doubt be associated with wisdom?
Me 'n "the boys" say who is wise?
He who learns from everyone..

jus cos its pumped into them (for the fools and fanatics) and the wise people keep an open mind

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'

Doubt or certainty do not always stay in connection with sagacity or folishness. Most of the time, the case isn't even as clear as which applies to one person at a time, because some of them apply for one person at the same time or at different times. Overcertainty isn't necessarily a sign of foolishness, but is a guidepost to the way that leads to not questioning oneself anymore. Everybody acts a fool once in a while, the important thing is to stay flexible and question things if there is evidence that they might have changed and to be open for this evidence, to be ready to check on things.
It's like me. I hate onions. But once in a while I check if it's still true. Today I found out it is. I still hate onions. Therefore wise people hate onions.

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labour. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.
~ Albert Einstein

Doubt is not always a sign of wisdom. I once heard that the main difference between knowledge and wisdom is basically that WISDOM is the ability to properly use the knowledge(or lack thereof) that someone possesses.

Speaking on religion, I would have to say that KNOWLEDGE is great, but wisdom is even greater. It is good to have understanding of a concept, but even greater to apply it. Being a fanatic??? Both fools and wise men can fall into that category.

If anyone wants to know what the difference between wisdom and foolishness is in the bible, read the book of Proverbs.

On another topic, I have a question that had me completely puzzled for several months after I was asked it... I'd like to see what others come up with.

"A wise man can play a fool, but can a fool play a wise man?"

~ PSYKO ~

" A wise man can play a fool" ,"but can a fool play a wise man" A good question in that it is thought stimulating..I will make my answer short..A wise man can play a fool often with great success..There IS a precedent..As for the fool attempting to play a wise manHis very effort denotes him as a fool in that he lacks to mental tools to avoid almost immediate detection..

"A wise man can play a fool, but can a fool play a wise man?"

The answer to your question is rather simple. "The wise man can tell."

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labour. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.
~ Albert Einstein

Hey,,,,slow down, why are we talking about being a wise "man"....lol
Can a person be truly considered wise, or wise on particular issues. We not all perfect and make mistakes, wouldn't this be considered being a fool at one time or another? Mistakes are what make us wise the next time around, no?
If we were 100% wise, wouldn't we be perfect?

The un-inspirational behavior of others determines our willingness to believe their words. Their life and truths then become like wind, collecting dust in its passing. -lea

tiska:"simple,the wise man can tell" Your answer is by no means clear..The wise man can tell! can tell what? that he is wise? How does one know when he has aquired wisdom???When his words are respected by his peers!!Is that what you meant?

I am sorry, my answer was incomplete indeed.

The question was: "A wise man can play a fool, but can a fool play a wise man?"

I say, "Yes they can. But the wise man can tell the difference."
I was in a haste, forgive my too-swift-thus-unclear answer.

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labour. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.
~ Albert Einstein

Between the two Only the wise man knows he is playing..A superb answer tiska.

If you were 100% wise, you would understand such a a feat was unattainable.

In some respects intelligence is a measure of how much you know, while wisdom is a measure of how much you know you don't know.... ya know?

This is true! You asked "why is it that fools and fanatics always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are full of doubts?" as though it is a fact. In reality, the only reason that you see wise men, fools, and fanatics this way is because that is how you have defined them. If somebody doubts, this to you is an indication of he is wise. by turning that around and saying "why is he wise, yet doubting?" you are doing the same as if you were to say "why does that tree have leaves?" but the only reason you know it is a tree is because it has leaves.
do you see my point? you define a wise man by a certain characteristic and then ask why he has it...

i think you need to redefine your words to avoid hasty assumptions

Express: you state,This is true,then you attempt to demolish your own credibility..
Moving on:"If someone doubts,this to you is an indication of he is wise"Lordy!! When a wise man loses doubt he loses the reality that there is more than one side to a thing..When in spite of that he makes a decision,while perhaps having reservations,it shows that wisely he has considered the maximum options..
As regards the tree,you are taking a flawed premise,putting it in someones mouth and demolishing it..Example"but the only reason you know it is a tree is because it has leaves"Another flawed presupposition..I must ask a wise man to define a tree for me in winter when it has no leaves..
Express by your definition it is not a tree when it has no leaves,then what is it??

It is foolish to make any action without carefully considering the various consequences(good or bad) of that action. Most mistakes, probably 99%, are made with some degree of carelessness(made too hastily, made without digging up enough info, etc.)

And no... mistakes don't always make us wise the next go around, because often times, MINOR details regarding similar situations are slightly different.(or even greater difference is present) Not everyone learns from their mistakes... But I will have to say that a wise man learns from his mistakes, while a fool thrives on making them. :-)

~ PSYKO ~

"In some respects intelligence is a measure of how much you know""Measure of how much you know is a function of memory..How much you UNDERSTAND is a function of wisdom. " wisdom is a measure'' Hmmm ,how to measure? What is wisdom? When the words of one who realises how much he does not know are nevertheless greatly respected by his peers,then he he has indeed the beginnings of wisdom..UM plagiarised,as usual under cover of darkness...

Bunny! i meant no antagonism,perhaps a difference in our ways of looking at things.
i would like to tell you something if i may.your way of regulating this channel did not find favour in the sight of all who saw and you paid a price,but not for nothing..i for one no longer approach the site with paranoia,with an haitch kay on my hip,your legacy is (regiaaaah) calm..you taught us restraint , respect for the opinions of others,and above all else ,not just to wait for our turn to talk,but to LISTEN..
BY the way i still think david della campese was the best rugby icon aussie ever had.that savoire faire,the flair and the macho to get to the line!!!

How dare you not antagonise me!!! I'm all hurt now... *sniff*

What I used the word know I was specifically referring to your accumulated knowledge, not just your entire collection of memories. I perhaps should have clarified myself better, but the more intelligent amongst you would have been able to figure it out for yourselves.

Intelligence can be seen as a measure of your knowledge, while wisdom is knowing how much knowledge you don't know as well as knowing how to properly use that which you do.

Knowledge is obtained from outside. Wisdom is obtained from within.

Hmmm... time for my meditation pill, while I watch old tapes of Campese doing the goosestep.

"but the more intelligent amongst you would have been able to figure that out for yourselves",clearly a baseless assumption.Hmmmm ASSUMING!that in just 9 days heaven and earth were created,with english as the only language,what price tower of babylon?