Brigham Young: A Case Study Of The Corruption Caused By The Absolute Faith Of "True Believers"

 

Alan: I believe in reformation, metanoia and second chances.

But we must also look clearly and with steady gaze at the downside of religion.

Mormonism's racist roots are not impertinent, nor is the Inquisition, nor is the "Christian" "Conservatism" that brought Trump to power.

At minimum, these abominations must teach us - every step of the way - that absolute faith is as corrupting as absolute power.

 

"Under The Banner Of Heaven: A Story Of Violent Faith"

Jon Krakauer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Banner_of_Heaven

"The terrible thing about our time is precisely the ease with which theories can be put into practice.  The more perfect, the more idealistic the theories, the more dreadful is their realization.  We are at last beginning to rediscover what perhaps men knew better in very ancient times, in primitive times before utopias were thought of: that liberty is bound up with imperfection, and that limitations, imperfections, errors are not only unavoidable but also salutary. The best is not the ideal.  Where what is theoretically best is imposed on everyone as the norm, then there is no longer any room even to be good.  The best, imposed as a norm, becomes evil.”  

"Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,” by Trappist monk, Father Thomas Merton

More Merton Quotes

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/04/merton-best-imposed-as-norm-becomes.html

Bad Religion And The Abrahamic Tradition

https://newsfrombarbaria.blogspot.com/2020/11/bad-religion-and-abrahamic-tradition.html

Religion, Perfectionism, Savonarola and The Pending Apocalypse of The Republican Party (This Post Was Written In 2012)

https://newsfrombarbaria.blogspot.com/2020/09/savonarola-and-pending-apocalypse-of.html

In Their Heart Of Hearts, Trump Cultists Want Liberals Dead. On The Other Side Of The Aisle, Liberals Want Conservatives To Just Leave Them Alone (And To Leave Religion Out Of Policy- Making)

https://newsfrombarbaria.blogspot.com/2020/12/in-their-heart-of-hearts-trump-cultists.html

"My Gripe With Christianity"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-gripe-with-christianity.html

The Christian Doctrine Of Damnation... And The Destruction Of Christ-Spirit

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-christian-doctrine-of-damnation-and.html

Compendium Of Best Pax Posts On Organized Religion And The Everyday Validation Of Violence

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/04/compendium-of-best-pax-posts-on.html

The Obsolescence Of God:

Good Religion And Bad

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2011/11/obsolescence-of-god-good-religion-and.html

"Has America Lost Its Mind?" 1A's Brilliant Interview With "Fantasyland's" Kurt Andersen
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/09/has-america-lost-its-mind-1as-brilliant.html

Televangelist Jim Bakker Resurrected: If This Doesn't Scare The Bejesus Out Of You, Repent For Your End Is Near!
http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2017/09/televangelist-jim-bakker-resurrected-if.html

Many Christians Live In An Unbreakable Bubble Of Biblical And Theological Dunderheadedness

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2016/01/many-christians-live-in-unbreakable.html

Read Hoffer's book.

"The True Believer"

PDF

https://www.academia.edu/21464682/The_True_Believer_Eric_Hoffer

"The True Believer"

A Summary

https://www.columbusschoolforgirls.org/uploaded/ACADEMIC_FILES/True_Believer.pdf

Compendium Of Best Pax Posts On Trump, Toxic Christianity And Cruelty As A Moral Obligation

https://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2020/02/compendium-of-best-pax-posts-on-trump_21.html