I don't even think it's a grift, really. I don't think its primary purpose is to convince others to give them money. I think its primary purpose is cope, not to lie to others but to lie to themselves. People who want to have their cake and eat it too on an emotional level, who can't resist the temptation of wealth and power and want to silence their own morality. It's a group of people who want to assure primarily each other that what they're doing is actually totally righteous.
I don't even think it's a grift, really. I don't think its primary purpose is to convince others to give them money. I think its primary purpose is cope, not to lie to others but to lie to themselves. People who want to have their cake and eat it too on an emotional level, who can't resist the temptation of wealth and power and want to silence their own morality. It's a group of people who want to assure primarily each other that what they're doing is actually totally righteous.
Its the perfect pyramid scheme though.
I'll take your money today... and 1,000 generations later you're relatives will get their payout.