world religions part 1

I think one of the neatest things about Mormonism is how quintessentially American it is. It was born in America, features a great migratory story, pretty much echoing the Jewish Exodus, and makes no compromises (at least it didn't initially). It's all about Joseph Smith (yeah, that guy from the south park episode) who at a young age claimed to have met Moses and Jesus and had divine revelation. And young Joseph convinced his religiously divided family (his mother was a protestant and his father was a catholic if I remember correctly) to abandon their fates and follow him as the new prophet.

The religion draws alot of skepticism as the next part of the story involves Joseph discovering what would become the book of Moron, which involves mysterious golden plates of which no evidence remains, which claim that Jesus came to the new world and brought the word of god to the natives, which lead to a war between these new Christians and other natives.

The really interesting thing about Mormonism isn't just the mythology behind it, and how it perhaps doesn't stand up to logical scrutiny, but rather it's evolution. The book of Mormon was first published in 1830, not even 200 years ago, relatively speaking, it's a very young religion, and unlike other religions' formative periods, we have relatively accurate records of what was going on at that time. In addition, Smith lead one form or another of the church until his death in 1844. So we have a prophet, making prophecies for his people, including endorsing polygamy at one point, and creating the Mormon doctrine of baptism at death. So, from an objective, logical point, we can question these prophecies and perhaps attribute them to less than pure desires, but what about our other world religions? are their doctrines any better for their uncertain genesis?

Mormons believe in baptizing a soul after death, for a life after death that is quite unlike any christian concept. They believe that the body is completely reconstituted in heaven, and that your family in this world will be your family in the next. In fact, Mormons believe that the message of Joseph Smith is that we all have the potential to be like God by attaining the highest level of heaven. (yup, Smith's heaven has levels). And don't forget about those mormon missionaries you see going door to door, that's a key precept of the faith that everyone partakes in at a young age, and finances from their own life savings.

Definitely a polarizing religion, but the end result is a very tight knit group of faithful...minus the gays. Mormons don't like gays.


A link to a great documentary by PBS on Mormonism