In Reply to: Re: Remembering sacred history posted by Radio Man on December 02, 2006 at 17:24:40:
I don't know all that much about the Puritan colonies or their manner of government as a social & economic entity. It is true that they didn't tolerate much deviation from the behavioral standards set forth by the elders. The discipline of group conformity was necessary for survival in an otherwise harsh, hostile environment.
It seems to me we're living in a time of polarization, which definitely lends itself to extremism on both ends of the spectrum. In the US, that polarization is seen as culture war between secularists and traditionalists. Many people, particularly conservative Christians, believe we're in a battle for the soul of the country. Google "culture war" in Wiki.
I personally believe the polarization that's producing so much ideological extremism has a lot to do with the huge re-alignment going on in the global economic system. But the relationship between economic globalization and ideological polarization is another topic altogether.