Spreading Evil

One of the best ways to advance your evil cause is to recruit unwitting followers. For a truly diabolical twist, make your followers believe they are doing good for the world.

Ironically, one of the best recruiting grounds for unwitting followers is among the world's deeply religious communities.  It's not that they are particularly less intelligent, its that they relate to the world primarily on an emotional level, and secondarily on a rational level.  That is to say, if you can communicate a message that appeals to them emotionally, they will create intellectual safeguards to defend that idea. Additionally, if you can appeal to them personally, they will rationalize any of your inconsistent behavior.

This is why there are vast gulfs between what religious texts instruct people to do, and what followers actually do. Parts of the teachings appeal to them emotionally, so they embrace them. Parts of the teachings clash with how they feel, so they rationalize their behavior rather than modify it.

It is essential that you understand this point, or you will fail miserably in your endeavors.  Most evil geniuses, like many scientists, relate to the world primarily on a rational level, and secondarily on an emotional level. It is the reason there is such a vast communication gulf between the religious community and the scientific community.  Though we are using similar words, we are literally speaking different languages.

Religious groups are particularly useful for persecuting other groups of people.  If you can convince Religious Group A that People Group X are irredeemably sinful, or are attacking their core values, Religious Group A will oppose them at every turn. They will even do so to their own detriment.  This is particularly useful if you are playing a long game and wish to garner public support for People X.  After all, who doesn't love an underdog.

I caution you that many more experienced masters of evil have been exploiting religious people for a long time.  Be wary of crossing a fellow diabolical genius.  We aren't know for our mercy.