I said this, JohnP--"In a "secular", more complex society, other associations replace the religious ones--country clubs, unions, folk clubs, or whatever--"meaning that when the opportunity arises, a lot of people fullfill their need for support and community in organizations that are build around something other than religion--

that was leading into another, very important point:

"the thing is that in when a society is in transition, when people are disenfranchised, when jobs are lost, and when other associations fall apart, people move back to the religious groups."

Which means that when all the other doors are closed on them, the religious ones are still open to them--furthermore, they take their disappointment, pain, feelings of rejection, and most important, their anger at the rest of the world with them. That's the beginning of militant fundamentalism.