Speaking of Saints...
December 03, 2002
Salt Lake and the Mormon Church are a fascinating case study in religious evolution, in how an old myth combines with popular ideas toform a new story that transcends the first and, later, seeks to supplant it. Ideas such as the Native American's being a lost tribe of Israel were very popular during Smith's time, as was the fascination with all things Egyptian -- huge influences, along with Masonry and pagan rites, on the "rediscovery" of this new faith.
One day I'd love to try to parallel the birth of Mormonism with that of Christianity itself. It's an off the cuff theory that their creations and evolutions have a great deal in common. Perhaps One of these decades, I'll actually be able to sit down and see if my pet theory pans out...
In the meantime, this is a rather interesting article on how the LDS views of free speech vs. how other's in the community do. Not much in the way of theorizing is needed to point out that they are behaving about as well as other Churches are regarding free speech, secular law and religious doctrine.
Posted by Jody at December 3, 2002 02:08 AM
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