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     %ULTIMATE CONCERN POWER CORRUPT RELIGIOUS LEAD 940625

     Since religious leaders attempt to deal with ultimate
concerns and relationships,  and with the ultimate  powers
of the universe---they are often tempted by the appearance
of ultimate power to be in control.  Influential religious
leaders   are more tempted than many people are to seek to
be  in  control  in ways  related  to  ultimate  concerns,
relationships and powers.   It should be no  surprise that
among powerful  religious  leaders  there are  people with
addictive tendencies  who  seek  to  be in control through
tools and means which entail neglect of truth,  deception,
dishonesty,  addictions and collusive games of mutual self
deception.   The ends are often regarded as justifying the
means.  Ultimate ends are often used to justify the use of
ultimate means.

     In the light of the above consideration it is wise to
be  alert to the possibility  that  religious leaders have
been  corrupted by unrestrained powers to influence  those
who  follow them.   The greater are the real  or  apparent
powers which followers perceive their leaders to have, the
more  likely  the  real or apparent powers  will  engender
corruption.

     The  greater  the power which  a  religious  paradigm
vests in the leaders who are the major incarnations of the
paradigm,   the greater the probability that  the  leaders
will be corrupted by unrestrained real or apparent power.

     Thus  when religious leaders are perceive to have the
power  to influence  the salvation or damnation  of  their
followers---there is a real  risk that the leaders will be
corrupted  if  their  real or  perceived  powers  are  not
restrained  appropriately so that their followers are  not
likely to be abused.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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