I think that's too convenient and loaded an explanation. I suspect a better one can be found in social identity theory, with positions like these being social markers that they use to establish firm boundaries around their in-group. Every group tends to develop social markers, things you're expected to believe or otherwise exhibit to show that you're "on their side." There may be some particular reason why any given marker first shows up, but once it gets adopted it becomes essentially self-perpetuating.
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