Your whole thread is great analysis of how the beast goes about trying to digest humanity.

I'm struck by how the preacher's prescription of getting right with God, though they no longer really know what that means, aligns with what Jesus said about the Pharisees, when He said listen to what they say but don't do what they do.

The only response to this is found in living right, but the beast makes it as hard as possible both to know what that means, and then to do it.