Under the Banner of Heaven

by Panda 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Panda

  This new book by Krakauer deals with the Dan and Ron Lafferty Mormon fundamentalist murder of their sister inlaw.

  These men were raised as strict Mormons. Their father was brutal (beat the family dog to death w/ a basball bat in front of the family --- what sick f**** would just stand there and watch? But I digress)

  The trial of these murderers considered some interesting legal questions. First, is it possible that these guys were insane at the time because of religious fervor? God is the one who told them to kill her because she was against their fundy teaching of plural marriage. Since she was married to their brother, who was coming around to fundy thought she vocally attacked their ideas and went to other family members to complain.. afterall, she hadn't married a fundy ... Oh they also killed her daughter.

  They claimed to the court that God specifically mentioned their siterinlaw and neice as necessary "blood sacrifice."

  So the murderers are in prison, one on death row.

  To me this drives the point that fundamentalist authoritarian religions are dangerous, both to those w/in but especially to those outside, "[they] nurture virtue w/in the group ... directing hostility beyond it."

  Now we see that the original wackos who came on the Mayflower are being touted as "the forgotten founding fathers of America" I can't believe it yet, I know it's true. These pilgrims left England because they were persecuted, only to persecute anyone who came to America and didn't agree with their religion. I digress....

  "Dan and Ron Lafferty saw their quest for security and stature frustrated and then found someone to blame ... [also] applies to Mohamet Atta, Timothy McVeigh, and the Columbine Killers." (reviewer Robert Wright, NYT book review 9/21)
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  refiners fire

  Ive read a couple of Krakouers books. Mainly he writes about extreme physical stuff like climbing mount Everest. Which he did in an ascent group where, I think, 8 people died. He also wrote a true account about a young guy who went into the Canadian wilderness and starved to death.

  As for Mormon fundie groups like the two guys you mention, there are a lot of them about which have made the news when they come into clash with government authority. The Singer clan and the LeBarons spring to mind. Mormon fundies are in a similar position to Russellites compared to dubs, they hold that the church has apostazied from the teachings of the founder. Some of those old teachings involve the old Biblical notion of the "Avenger of Blood" and polygamy. Its inevitable they will come to the attention of the law and that pretty soon the ATF will be encamped around their compound with their infrared sniper rifles.
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  refiners fire

  As to these guys motive for murder.

  Well Brigham Young laid down the law regarding "blood atonement" and the "Sons of perdition" in September 1856 in the "Journal of Discourses".

  ...."I do know that there are sins commited, of such a nature that if the people did understand the nature of Salvation, they would tremble because of their situation.If they knew themselves of the only condition under which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke therof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them"....

  This woman had committed the unforgiveable sin,(turning aside from the truth) and only her death could cancel out her sins so as she could be back in Gods grace. There you have it in a nutshell.
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  MegaDude

  Thanks for the review. I've read Krakauer's "Into The Wild" and "Into Thin Air" and loved both of them. I will get around to this book eventually.