It seems that the strong sense of power had a lot to do with the far out extremes that happened. With their power more power and it turned angry at lack of obedience, compliance, and agreement. Fear was powerful then, powerful enough that evil could be readily pushed week after week. Eventually any resistance might have seemed very dangerous. I am speaking about prior to the mass killings. The lesson perhaps is the violence of intolerance and how some people can become violently intolerant, even to disagreement (Neurotic?). As a world we must be reminded now and then.