[LINK] Extreme Religion

[rfmcdonald]

mollpeartree has sparked an interesting discussion (1, 2, 3) regarding the connection between very strict religious observance, with all the attentions to minutiae thus required, and the qualities of being a geek. mollpeartree was writing specifically in connection to political Islam, but I wonder how many of her insights can be extended to other religions associated with strong traditions of political activity: Roman Catholicism in 19th and 20th century Europe and Québec, Hinduism in India and the South Asian diaspora now, perhaps evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity in the United States and elsewhere.