The character of Bob Kirkland was always to me an obvious red herring, and Red John is not him but his twin brother. The "saviour" that Kirkland says his twin found during his days of alcoholism and self-waste was not Red John but Bret Stiles. This therefore constitutes Red John's much-discussed history with the cult Visualise.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=590v4FCm6WU

Also, do click this link and observe the physical similarities between Bob Kirkland and this man.