Tonight on Facebook there was a little commentary going back and forth about a flat earth, Christianity, and someone posted a response about the world on the back of a turtle... which got me thinking about the creation myths.
Now, each ancient culture had its own guess as to how the earth had come about, and to hear them today, they all seem ludicrously outlandish (and yes, I include the one in the Bible among those.) So why do SO many Americans (specifically) and many people in many other parts of the world hold so steadfastly to the Jewish creation myth? They're not Jews, after all... and most Jews don't even believe (or especially not take literally) their ancestors' verbally-handed-down stories.
It's because of the Romans. The Romans saw the power of religion, and harnessed it. Because when you try to enslave a people with only the sword, all you enslave is their body. With religion as your weapon, you enslave their mind. Then you have countless armies at your disposal with no dissent, and your kingdom can grow exponentially while still maintaining complete control.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Something I'll bet you didn't know (and certainly wouldn't expect) Mormons to believe
Mormons, like most other "Christians," are overwhelmingly Republican. In fact, when the Tea Party came about - a LOT of Mormons jumped proudly on that bandwagon. Now that Tea Party candidates have been elected and are creating tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy while eliminating tax cuts and services for the poor and elderly, as well as education in general - these Mormon tea-partiers are celebrating their victory and gladly trumpeting the implementation of the "virtues" promised by said tea-party politicians.
So it might surprise you to hear what the Mormon church has taught since the very earliest days of its existence:
"The time must come when we must obey that which has been revealed to us as the Order of Enoch, when there shall be no rich and no poor among the Latter-day Saints; when wealth will not be a temptation; when every man will love his neighbor as he does himself; when every man and woman will labor for the good of all as much as for self. That day must come, and we may as well prepare our hearts for it, brethren, for as wealth increases I see more and more a necessity for the institution of such an order. As wealth increases, luxury and extravagance have more power over us. The necessity for such an order is very great, and God, undoubtedly, in his own time and way, will inspire his servant [the prophet] to introduce it among the people." -George Q. Cannon - Journal of Discourses, 15:207.
Hmmm... that doesn't sound like the Tea Party virtues, at all. Sounds a lot more like Socialism. This also isn't one of those things the Church likes to pretend never existed (like polygamy,) either. In fact, it's included as one of the aspects of the Temple Ceremony - where Mormons are reminded of their covenants. It's called "The Law of Consecration" and it basically means you are required to give up anything and everything for the Church if they should ask for it. Of course, they're not asking for it now... just the usual 10% tithing like most other churches. But they COULD...
So it might surprise you to hear what the Mormon church has taught since the very earliest days of its existence:
"The time must come when we must obey that which has been revealed to us as the Order of Enoch, when there shall be no rich and no poor among the Latter-day Saints; when wealth will not be a temptation; when every man will love his neighbor as he does himself; when every man and woman will labor for the good of all as much as for self. That day must come, and we may as well prepare our hearts for it, brethren, for as wealth increases I see more and more a necessity for the institution of such an order. As wealth increases, luxury and extravagance have more power over us. The necessity for such an order is very great, and God, undoubtedly, in his own time and way, will inspire his servant [the prophet] to introduce it among the people." -George Q. Cannon - Journal of Discourses, 15:207.
Hmmm... that doesn't sound like the Tea Party virtues, at all. Sounds a lot more like Socialism. This also isn't one of those things the Church likes to pretend never existed (like polygamy,) either. In fact, it's included as one of the aspects of the Temple Ceremony - where Mormons are reminded of their covenants. It's called "The Law of Consecration" and it basically means you are required to give up anything and everything for the Church if they should ask for it. Of course, they're not asking for it now... just the usual 10% tithing like most other churches. But they COULD...
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