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I'm beginning to think of the likes of Haggard, Reed, Bennett, Swaggart, etc. etc. more as charlatans than righty wing-nuts. They are dirven by the desire to use religion merely to accumulate power and wealth. They cheat, they lie, they gamble, they fuck the wrong people, but with enough power you can do those things while telling others not to. They are no more 'religious leaders' than snake-oil salesmen were scientists. As an atheist, I still retain respect for those I consider true religious leaders, the new Episcopal head, some heads of seminaries, and mainstream theologians, many of whom adhere to the principles of compassion, tolerance and social justice.
