Jon Stewart and the Too Much God Question

On Thursday's (2/7/08) edition of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart there was a lot of talk about Governor Mitt Romney's announcement that he was suspending his campaign for the Presidency. Stewart showed bits and pieces of Romney's speech given at that conservative convention thing (the name of the thing escapes me) and commented on the soundbites. In doing so, Stewart addressed an issue that is very relevant for people of faith.

After showing clips in which Romney spoke about the need for more faith in God and a return to Christian-esque principles and morals, Stewart remarked that Romney was saying that "We need more God. We don't have enough God in our lives." He then showed clips in which Romney addressed the issue of terrorism and the religious extremists who perpetuate terror and said, "Oh wait, we've got too much God!"

In his characteristically irreverent way, Stewart actually noted an important dilemma that we deal with on a global and personal level: How much zeal is too much zeal when it comes to living your religion? When do you know that you have gone too far in perpetuating your beliefs?

This question is very relevant, I think, in every religious sect. There is not a religious organization that I know of that has not had its problems when its adherents have gone too far in their zeal. People claiming all manner of religious identities have done absolutely terrible, abominable things in the name of God, from human sacrifice in a number of traditions to the Crusades, to Mountian Meadows, to the Jihadist terrorism of today.

How do we guard ourselves against this kind of extremism?