If linguists say that the difference between a dialect and a language is an army, and theologians contend that a cult is a church with no political clout, then the Bates family’s view seemed to be that a platform becomes a country based on its ability to control its narrative. Granted, the narrative seemed so bizarre at times, spinning off into tangents and conspiracy theories, that it would be a challenge for anyone to control. But the Bates family remained the unofficial historians, and years of practice have honed their ability to tell a good tale.
