Religious leaders definitely have an influence on humanity. Leaders or higher-ups of certain religions can invoke their preferences and views on people through fear. As someone who grew up in a Christian household and went to a Christian School, I’ve seen this. The parish members, along with religion teachers would more or less tell you what was a sin. These things included abortion, same sex marriage, and sex before marriage. Growing up hearing these things, kids won’t know better than to believe what they’ve been told. This passes down through generations, more or less brainwashing people into believing it. To be frank, in a way it happened to me. I grew up being told that being transgender is wrong, and fake. Obviously I managed to learn that those claims are complete rubbish. I am now an out trans man. The point being, religious leaders do in fact influence people’s ideas and beliefs.