The religious leader stood at the podium, his piercing blue eyes scanning the rows of devout believers before him. His name was Elijah Brighthaven, and he was infamous for his unwavering faith and unbreakable belief in God, a belief that drove him to promote a Puritanic lifestyle that blamed all the world's troubles on human weakness and over-reliance on technology. Elijah's hair was black and combed to a sleek finish, and his deep, resonant voice was full of charm that mesmerized his audience. Whenever he spoke, his words were full of absolute authority, and his followers' eyes widened in adoration and their mouths opened to listen to him. "The power of God is not achieved through pills or machines made in foreign countries," he declared. "We must abandon these worldly temptations and return to the spiritual realm, surrendering our ailments to a higher power to heal." Over time, Elijah's teachings seeped into the daily lives of his followers. They began to reject the benefits of modern medicine and racked their brains to find alternative methods - from herbal remedies to spiritual healing - to treat their ailments. Some looked to prayer and penance, while others experimented with sacred symbols and amulets, believing these would grant them protection and healing powers. Elijah's group began to become increasingly isolated from the outside world. They established their own communities, where they practiced strict rules and rituals, and they looked to Elijah to guide them through life's trials. The group's behavior was seen as eccentric by outsiders, but Elijah ignored their skepticism. "We are only избрание of God," he declared, "and we live in the spiritual world of the divine covenant, a world divorced from the weakness of the flesh." Despite his lack of concern for the well-being of others, Elijah was deeply admired by others. His followers sought his advice on all matters - from diet to entertainment choices. They viewed him as a channel for a higher authority, believing that his direct connection to God enabled him to make decisions that would determine their well-being and even their life and death. Anyone who doubted Elijah's teachings was seen as a threatening outlier, and Elijah declared that only such bad influences could cause division and chaos. Over time, the group's inherent Weltanschauung became increasingly insular. Elijah’s followers shut out any evidence against their claims, refusing to read any scientific studies that contradicted their dogma. They developed a keen nose for skeptical voices and were quick to suppress any viewpoints that dared to differ radically from their own. The absolute obedience Elijah demanded made individualism or independent thought impossible; anyone who disobeyed faced ostracism, and their fears were skillfully exploited by Elijah to maintain his position as a grassroots leader. Despite his lack of concern for others, Elijah displayed a strange, paradoxical caring. Whenever someone was sick, he would hug them tightly, his voice low and full of concern. “Give your fear to God,” he would whisper, his words filled with unsettling sincerity. “We will pray, and healing will appear.” Cut off from the outside world and rational thought, the followers ended up relying on Elijah to guide them through their darkest moments. In a world driven by pride, desire, and fanaticism, Elijah had enacted a new, carefully crafted cosmology, and he rose to the pinnacle of faith. In this maelstrom of boundless and unbridled fanaticism, Elijah's followers fell into desperate faith and desperate trust. They abandoned all doubt and reason and turned to their leader to guide them through the treacherous road to disaster.