--- On Sun, 1/23/11, Mervyn Lobo <mervynal...@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
> The question I have is:
> Are the successful religious figures so because they preach
> what people
> want to hear or are they so because of the rewards people
> heap on them?
>
Mervyn,
In my opinion, the answer depends on whether one is dealing with a regular
priest or a popular swami/baba. Virtually nobody understands most of what the
regular priest says, so it does not matter what he says. He does not preach for
the most part. Swami/baba, on the other hand, preaches, so it is important that
people like what he says. The sayings can be as corny as those on Hallmark
greeting cards. The latter figure has a great deal in common with his
counterpart in other religions, as well as with New Age gurus, motivational
speakers and alternative medics.
Cheers,
Santosh
