Red John: I don't think its Bret Stiles but the cult itself, the hierachy anyway.  Here is why. Red John is methodical, seducing, patient, inspiring, eligant in a twisted sense, polite, and way off its rocker. As I describe red john, I also described the cult visualize. They are very methodical and patient. Also who can be in that many places, be so resourceful, and have that many followers? A cult. It makes more sense as a group. Finally every episode visualize finds themselve in trouble it almost seems like there more desturbed over hurting their own identity and not who ever was killed.