yesterday, i was in the public library looking at free minds and reading the posts. After I'd finished reading on free minds I'd figured I'd go over to the magazine section to catch up on some current events. As I got up to move to the other section the next person in line for computer use was a young mormon boy. He must have been doing mission work in the area b/c he was still dressed in his black pants and white shirt. He smiled and I could tell he was nice. It was almost like looking at myself. I guess I just find it ironic that I just got off a site that frequently talks about cult and high-control groups and when I turned around there he was. My old self looking back at me.
but there's more to the story.....
when I got to the magazine section I picked up the latest, I guess it was newsweek and I began reading the wife murder that everyones been talking about. About the time I start to read it another young mormon sits two seats away from where I'm sitting. I'd heard that the husband who supposedly killed his wife was from utah so I immediately wondered if in fact he was mormon. As the article went on to describe the life of the accused murderer I couldn't help but look over at the mormon boy and wonder what people in his church were saying about the murder. I wondered if I asked him about the murder and if being a mormon had anything to do with it would he get defensive and defend his religion. Let me say that I don't believe that just being a mormon alone will lead someone to murder. Obviously there were probably other factors to consider in this case. But as I would frequently glance over at the boy I couldn't help but imagine what his world-view must be. The article in newsweek went on to describe how the husband was engaging in things inappropriate to the mormon religion and how his wife was dissappointed in his wayward choices. As I was reading the article I couldn't help but feel like I had an insidelook into this case knowing how high-control groups use fear and guilt as a way to keep people in line. As I looked at the mormons in the library I felt some degree of pride knowing that I at one time wouldn't even allow the possibility that my religion could be wrong.