Not sure the bullies as critical to this what ever it is as the pulpit part of OP.
Bullies are a dime a dozen. Bullies speaking from the pulpit is the menacing part. Recall historic churches with the high pulpits, preacher closer to God, high above the congregants. I now observe pulpits reaching for the heavens, sermons on the mount, stone tablets engraved with a thousand commandments.
How can so many people know the truth? As for myself, l'll believe the first guy who can part the seas and spin the earth backwards, must do both at same time.