A megachurch borrowed military chain-of-command structure to enforce ideological conformity

Evidence

Colorado Springs was a battleground, a “spiritual Gettysburg,” explained one man who understood his own role in militarized terms: “I’m a warrior, dude. I’m a warrior for God. Colorado Springs is my training ground.” Like the military, New Life employed a rigid chain of command to ensure strict ideological conformity. Male authority and female submission were essential to that hierarchical order. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 474