A close cousin of irreligious fanaticism, but emphasizing identity: the zealotry of those who
define themselves primarily by being not‑religious. Non‑religious fanatics often gather in communities where the
main bond is shared rejection of
religion, and they police each other’s purity—expelling anyone who attends a religious wedding, visits a church for
art, or expresses any sympathy for spiritual seekers. Their fanaticism stems from a fragile identity that must constantly reaffirm itself by attacking its opposite. The result is a community as dogmatic and exclusionary as any sect.