IN THE PREVIOUS TWO POSTS, I outlined the first two of three reasons that the religious right has been easy for the political right to manipulate.

I pointed out that Fundamentalism teaches people to speak and think politically, evaluating both people and ideas according to their political associations, and that Fundamentalism is authoritarian, teaching people to kowtow to power, both in their behavior and thought.

Today I take up the third reason: Fundamentalism is adversarial.

If you ask the average fundamentalist about this, he or she will almost certainly deny it—just as I would have when I was a fundamentalist.

It's so deeply ingrained in conservative religious culture that it's almost unnoticeable. Not because it's hidden, but because it's always in plain view, and therefore easy to overlook.

Our hymnbooks were filled with lines like "The Battle-Hymn of the Republic", "We are more than conquerors", "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war".

We were taught that the world out there was evil, that our job was to conquer it for Jesus, that non-Christian ideas were enemies, that it was a weakness to listen to reason over faith.

The world was a spiritual battlefield, and we were simply soldiers, fighting on the side of right.

The fundamentalist church service was an indoctrination session, a training ground for troops in the political culture wars.

The wealthy interests of the Republican party, and the neo-con empire builders, found a ready source there for recruitment as ground troops.

Fundamentalists were ready to see an election as a battle-ground: an event in a cosmic war.

They were more than ready to equate their country with their religion, to see the invasion of another country as a holy war, to view other religions as enemies of God.

And if the ideas needed some subtle adjustments, they attended regular indoctrination sessions as a matter of course. If their pastor couldn't be convinced to help, they listened to talk radio with equal fervor.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

These fundamental attitudes, pounded into the heads of conservative Christians in indoctrination sessions once or twice or often three times a week, create a certain ability to:

• believe nonsense if it supports their political stance,
• accept what the speaker at the rally says, and repress any contrary evidence or experience,
• be willing to sacrifice their own interests in favor of those of the rich and powerful,
• to view outsiders as evil, and themselves as soldiers in a holy war.

They have learned certain skills in church, skills that can easily be applied to the political arena.

They are the perfect subjects for political forces—with the interests of the wealthy and powerful at heart—to rally and indoctrinate, especially if they can get the pastor to help.

The recent revelations about the theology of The Family—the "ministry" to "the up and outers" in Washington D.C.—is no surprise, seen in this light.

The idea that to truly follow Jesus is to do everything possible to aid the rich and powerful is only a minor adjustment in the basic attitudes of Fundamentalism.

I have two recent conservative emails on my desk, both filled with distortions and outright lies about the President of the United States.

One of them even begins by saying that Snopes has verified its lie, when in fact Snopes has exposed it.

What mentality sees that claim and immediately loses any desire to check further?

A mentality that has already been well trained in the art of not asking unorthodox questions.

One that knows it is more important to come up with the "correct" conclusion than it is to have the facts straight.

What mentality can be made to easily assume that anyone brought up in a different faith is automatically a threat?

What mentality can be sold on the idea that our normal political processes are a cosmic battle in disguise?

What mentality can be rallied to causes that are never mentioned in their own scriptures, and fervently believe it is taking a "biblical" stance, and that those who take another one are willfully disobeying God?

What mentality will vote repeatedly against its own interests, in favor of those of wealth and power?

I think I know.

And I think I know exactly what kind of indoctrination creates it.

At least, that's what I think today.

Let me know what you think: comments below...