"Fighting the good fight"

Courtesy of The Higher Pie, two chilling tales of dangerous, disturbing, militant fundamentalism, including weapons training; tactical assault conditioning; the indoctrination of small children in houses of worship through Soviet-era propaganda techniques "discrediting" the science and history of the West; and a campaign dedicated to ultimately imposing theocratic control by force, while eliminating the movement's "greatest enemies."

Al Qaeda, you ask? Hamas? Are they radical Iranian terrorists? Maybe renegade Sunni insurgents practicing for a surprise assault on the U.S.? Nice try, kids - but we're actually talking about American Christians.

I've always had great respect for the true tenets of Christianity, and at least an intellectual understanding of people's need for faith in their lives. Paramilitary training and systematic brainwashing, however, are two things I don't seem to remember being any part of the magnificent philosophies of that carpenter from Nazareth.

The dangers of religious fundamentalism come in all shapes, colors, and denominations. Those in our society who criticize moderate Muslims for their reluctance to condemn fanatics in their midst should think about leading by example, occasionally turning a critical eye toward extremists closer to home.