The perfect ruse
You know how you get away with being a liar, cheat, and thief? Pretend to be a very pious religious person. A former coworker of mine got away with stealing from the company for years because who would suspect the churchgoing, overtly Jesus-loving, youth-group-leading choir singer? Same with priests, televangelists, ayatollahs, really anyone who uses their religiosity to cultivate trust they have done nothing else to deserve.
Unless the good deeds accompany it, I see no reason to trust someone who exploits religion to get me on their side. If anything, I've swung in the other direction and need more convincing before I'll take an overtly religious person at their word. I've seen too many bad things done both in the name of and behind the curtain of religion.
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I have to agree unfortunately.
Agreed, too. Special shout-out to several of my neighbors and co-workers: Thanks for reinforcing my reluctance to get involved in anything "religious." I prefer to continue my sinful, ignorant ways in the privacy of my own home, thanks!
Amen.
Dennis Rader, the infamous BTK killer, killed 10 people in Wichita, KS between '74 & '91. Even though he fit the profile, he was dismissed as a suspect in part because of his pious demeanor, president of Christ Lutheran Church and cub scout leader.
Rader got caught from sending police a floppy disc he used at the Christ Lutheran Church-so his ruse was less than perfect.