By Newton Joseph, Ph.D., Porter Ranch California. This article appeared in the Newsletter of the Freethinkers Association of Central Texas, which reprinted it from the April-June 1998 issue of Secular Nation.

The Jews in Germany thought it would never happen. What started off as a small fringe group of radical fanatics, the Nazi party, was persistent in usurping the German government that was relatively liberal. What started off here in the United States as a small fringe group of radical fanatics, the Christian fundamentalists, is slowly usurping the democratic processes by boasting of their takeover of the Republican party, The Nazi party started off as a grassroots political party. Christian fundamentalism started off as a grassroots religious party.

As soon as the Nazi party gained political power, it passed strict laws against basic freedoms. Christian fundamentalists, as a minority religion, wield power in our politics and are pushing for curbs against our basic freedoms.

As the Nazi party grew in power and prestige, people jumped on the Nazi bandwagon. As Christian fundamentalism grows in power and prestige, more Christians from other denominations are jumping on the bandwagon of fundamentalism.

The Nazi party, when it gained complete control of the government, initiated a reign of terror, attacking liberalism. Christian fundamentalists have initiated a reign of terror by trying to destroy any vestige of liberalism.

The Nazi party censored the arts. Christian fundamentalists have had a big influence in censoring the arts.

The Nazi party censored books. Christian fundamentalists censor books in the classroom and some libraries where they have control, such as in the Bible Belt.

The Nazis persecuted not only Jews but homosexuals and intellectuals as well. Christian fundamentalists are persecuting homosexuals and are hostile toward intellectuals.

The Nazis outlawed abortion. The fundamentalists are trying to move the clock back to when abortions were illegal. Christian fundamentalists have been behind the campaign to restrict abortions in federally funded programs.

The Nazis persecuted atheists, leftwing political parties, and secular humanists (no matter what they were called in the early 1930's). Born again Christians are hostile towards atheists/secular humanists.

The Nazi party formed a paramilitary force called the Brown Shirts. Most paramilitary forces in the United States are comprised of various factions of Christian fundamentalists.

The Nazi party was undemocratic. Christian fundamentalists and other orthodox groups such as the Catholic Church are anti-democratic.

Hitler had complete dictatorial power. The Catholic Church would like to have complete dictatorial power as it once had in Poland, Ireland, and Yugoslavia. The Christian fundamentalists do not hide their wish to have dictatorial power (Pat Robertson for example).

Hitler passed the Nuremberg laws that imitated the medieval law of the Catholic Church. Christian Reconstructionists want to pass anti-human laws of the Bible. They want the death penalty for heresy, non-belief, adultery, incorrigibility of children, breaking the Sabbath, fake pretensions of prophecy (I'm sure the list will grow), homosexuals, and liberals.

Hitler wanted women to stay home and make babies, and wanted men in charge of their wives. Christian fundamentalists want women to stay home and make babies and they teach men to be the head of the household.

Hitler wanted Germany to be a fascist state. Christian fundamentalists want America to be a Christian nation (How about Jews, Moslems, and other minority religions?).

The Nazi party attracted every psychopath in Germany. Christian fundamentalism attracts every psychopath in America.

I conduct group psychotherapy for the Los Angeles County Probation Department in a locked facility for antisocial juveniles. There is strict discipline so these juveniles cannot act out their antisocial behavior. I've grown to like some of the juveniles and told them so, but as I've explained to them, if they tried to harm me on the outside I would hate them.

Christian fundamentalists haven't yet the power to act out their antisocial behavior. Most appear to be decent people. Concentration camp guards who murdered men, women, and children were good fathers and husbands. But as we know from experience, once someone has dictatorial power, their personality changes and they become very dangerous.