Writers and historians have long agonized over whether the Pastor was good or bad, cynical or deluded. I honestly struggle to look on him favorably, and not just because such a large percentage of the unpleasantness in my life stems from the movement he birthed. Russell allowed himself to be swept along on a tide of late 19th century evangelical hysteria at a time when almost anyone with a bit of money and charisma—and preferably an unconventional take on the Bible—would probably have had little difficulty attracting an audience. Rather than shy away from the power his followers seemed
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