A Parable of a Cult Leader? Johnnie tells a little lie and his family believes him. Then he tells a bigger lie and still they believe him. He keeps telling more and more lies with others believing him. Spoiled by the adoration, acceptance and conditioning he develops a new reality of alternative facts where whatever he says is “the truth.” Those that do not agree with him are now the liars to his reality. All others’ views that are factual are fake. Those within his ranks that expose the contradictions are traitors, apostates and or disgruntled. Loyalty is a one way street. When a major legitimate force of facts gets in the way of Johnnie’s reality, he must resort to using his authority, granted by his followers, to squash them. This may include destroying symbols of the debate of facts, like printing presses, science, and legislative bodies. Bloodshed can be in the cards. These acts are carried out by his henchmen to give Johnnie what he thinks, in his reality, is rightfully his.
As he carried a bag of sand he thought, "I could say this was a bag of gold powder, and who would know it?"
He later claimed to have a gold bible "hid up." Who could know whether he lied or not? Unbelievers could be accused of bumming his trip. Generations could be born into the acceptance of his bold lie. Who would know?