the power of presumption

As a boy from Brooklyn, NY, I used to (only half) jokingly
say: If you walk in like you owned the place, everyone would
assume you did! That's so true in religion. Look at the TV
evangelists, for example. Pretend you know what you're talking
about and you've got disciples, a following. Then the great
guru thinks, "I must be the prophet of God! See how God is
blessing "my" ministry!" And the people think,"He/She is the
prophet/prophetess of God- he/she said so! It would be very
funny if it weren't so incredibly stupid- and, worse, dangerous!
We, as Christians, believe in something called truth. Were it
not for that, all us thinking folks would have tossed in the
towel long ago. In that context we can appreciate the poor
soul, who in contempt for our silliness, has become an honest
agnostic or atheist. As for the power of presumption: the
minister who does not question the basis of his own faith in
the light of all the religious arrogance and stupidity of our
time is part of the problem. Pretending may convince yourself
and your "followers"- but look what you've done to the world!