Prominent sociologist Peter L. Berger, who has written extensively on religion and society, made a perceptive observation regarding religious movements such as the Christian Right. He maintained that these organizations are reacting to something they perceive as a threat rather than merely acting to further their ideologies.

Consider a community garden where all the members have been diligently caring for their plots for years. All of a sudden, a group shows up with a different set of gardening ideas and starts promoting what they refer to as "secular humanism." This new approach to gardening places more emphasis on scientific methods than on long-standing, community-respected traditional methods. Because it contradicts their long-held customs and beliefs, the original gardeners may feel threatened by this change.

In a similar vein, Berger contends that groups such as the Christian Right frequently emerge in response to what they see as an increasing secular influence in society. These groups believe that secular humanism is undermining traditional institutions and values by prioritizing reason, science, and individual freedom over religious doctrine. Consequently, they defend what they perceive to be under attack by retaliating with their own set of values.

Berger's observation enables us to see that the driving forces behind movements such as the Christian Right are motivated by both defending against perceived threats from secular ideas and furthering particular religious doctrines. This viewpoint promotes a more complex comprehension of the reasons behind these groups' behavior, acknowledging that their acts are defensive rather than merely offensive.