I think what you are talking about is linked to the concept of core beliefs. People tend to want to reinforce their beliefs rather than question them, and they put up barriers when their beliefs are challenged by others. The link below does a good job of illustrating this concept.
[theoatmeal.com]

In the end of the day it all comes down to three things: Food, shelter and safety – and fear of not having it. Not much different today than when we lived in caves. Otherwise, I suggest reading "Death of the Liberal Class" (Chris Hedges) that one might glean how we got to the point of electing a Donald Trump. (Specifically Chapter lll, Dismantling the Liberal Class). America has been a pretty crazy place in the past, too.

Takes a lot trouble to figure out just who such people really are, so I seldom take the trouble to do so. Smile.

Some people seem to think it rubs off, and they crave the authority to which they bow. If a guy goes to church enough, he can pretend he is closer to god, the ultimate authority, and he can flaunt his greater Divinity to the less informed/blessed.

There's a great book called The Righteous Mind with a subtitle of why good people differ about politics and religion that explains people's attraction to religion and it's mostly group stuff. Wanting to belong, needing to belong etcetera.
As for me I think it comes down to one's definition of intelligence. Being book smart doesn't make you Street Smart. I separate out Trump from religion because unfortunately if you're kind of brainwashed by your parents or feel the need to follow your upbringing regarding religion it's a little different than following an idiot. As a child you're not usually given the option to explore what religion is really about. As an adult anyone who listens to someone who lies to them all day and is completely self-absorbed and greedy that to me speaks volumes to their "intelligence." To me it's not political. Normally one party wins, one party loses and while you may not agree with their policies at least the person is competent. That's been thrown out the window here. You have to be competent and qualified to do your job as I do for mine. But the person leading the Free World doesn't have to be? Just boggles the mind.

Quick response, he's not my president.
I'm against churches and their hypocrisy. Our government has become tyrannical.
I'm a true outlaw/outcast and would rather wear myself out blazing my own path rather than blindly follow another.

They all go hand in hand. Wanting to be told what to do and believe leads to seeking religion and strong authoritarian leaders. People on this site tend to be at least skeptical if not defiant of authority.

The majority of folks are sheep. The idea no one is in charge is very unsettling for most people.

I'm not sure if I would call them rules. I think that some people, as a group, need to be told what to do and are susceptible to authoritative, charismatic/loud-voiced "leaders" like Drumpf and other con artists like him. Isn't that what you see in any cult?

Somewhere between Nature and Nurture, some people are not able to achieve the escape velocity required to overpower the gravity of certain childhood dependencies. To be fair, nobody does completely. We are all babies with modifications - some more extensive than others. We all need other people, and we all need guidelines but we are not all creative enough to write our own satisfactorily. Human Nature makes most of us followers, and Human Nurture is usually too busy to reorient that trajectory to any great extent.

trump doesn't follow rules. he doesn't even follow laws. in fact, he doesn't KNOW most of the rules or laws. so those who feel lost without rules and latch onto trump obviously don't care if anyone else follows rules!

g

Unfortunately, intelligence is not criteria for identifying dependency. The most intelligrnt people can be insecure. Afraid of change, or the unknown. They ignore their intellect in order to seek and create order in their lives. Some need a structure as they are incapable maintaing their own internal order.

I think it's a desire to not be responsible for decisions, actions, and the consequences. People want to abdicate control in return for not feeling solely responsible. Makes them feel safe.

I abhor that mindset.

If you really want to understand why people commit themselves to religions and to dogmatic political ideologies, you need to read Erich Fromm's ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM.It is not rules which are the attractants.

It’s a part of being asleep, and donating your authority to someone else because of an impulse stemming from early childhood. There has always been someone there to take charge — the school teacher, the careers trainer, the pastor, your boss at work.