Why religious obligations lead to financial fraud include the following:

1. Absolute power corrupts absolutely (power without check and balance tends to inform mismanagement of public funds).

2. The led often see the leader as tin God.

Alwielland Q. Bello,

Your question contains a problematic assumption. To ask “Why do religious obligations lead to financial fraud?” suggests that religion itself produces corruption. In fact, this is a misleading link, because religion and human behavior must be separated.

So, the correct way to frame the issue is not that religious obligations lead to fraud, but that some individuals exploit religious obligations to cover their weaknesses or greed. The responsibility lies with human behavior, not with religion.

One might as well ask why the love of money leads to financial fraud. There is no clear connection between religious obligation, love of money and financial fraud other than that in today's world, all three quite often involve money.

I find the question problematic. to me, there is no direct correlation between religion and financial fraud. Any organization, sacred or secular, are run by infallible - and sometimes malicious - human beings. Religion is not unique in this regard.

I would be curious as to why you made this assumption in your question.

argh. I can't find a way to edit my replies! I meant that organizations are run by FALLIBLE people, not infallible.

Dear Bello, It is can be observed that some religious groups collect large amounts of money in the name of God. Who knows?