[jfengel]

I concur that Christian Dominionism is an enormous factor, but I think it's important to realize that the cult-like behavior goes beyond that. They are political allies with both "mainstream" Christians and staunch atheists. The Dominionists are only about 1/4 of the United States -- enough to dominate a ruling party, but only if the rest accede to it.

The origins of that alliance are complex and deep. They've definitely been cultivated over that 50-60 year time frame you mention, though they go back even further. You mention the John Birch Society, which is about 20 years further back. Before that it was anti-immigrant hysteria, and back through the Civil War and the founding of the country.

I don't fully understand what makes that alliance work now, seeing as the allies in it should be at each other's throats. They each seem to think that they're getting something over on the other, somehow.