As eccentric and naive as their beliefs now appear, it is at least heartening to note the apparent sincerity with which Russell and Barbour embarked on their evangelical escapades. Russell in particular not only sold his business and invested his fortune in pursuit of spreading the message—he also pinned his name and reputation on the outlandish predictions of someone who had previously electrocuted people for a living, despite knowing his new partner’s claims had only a brief window before being proven true or false. Such reckless, self-defeating actions do not speak of a calculated, cynical
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