Mormon Fury Over Taliban Analogy

Mormons tend to be very defensive of their church - even more so than other Christian denominations, it seems. Thus it comes as no surprise that a recent book that alleges that violence and excesses committed by some Mormons can be traced directly to certain unsavory aspects of traditional Mormon theology - and that Mormon efforts to avoid owning up to those problems is itself part of the problem.

The Scotsman reports:

[Jon] Krakauer argues that the Laffertys' beliefs descended from a culture of violence embedded in the Mormons' 19th-century roots. He says the Church should acknowledge that such fanaticism sprung from its foundations and accept responsibility. Krakauer’s book has proved so controversial in Salt Lake City, Utah, the home of the Church, that some venues refused to host his appearances. He acknowledges that the religious fanatics he highlights should not be muddled with mainstream Mormons.

That there is a "dark side" to religion, religious faith, and religious devotion should undeniable. Some, however, will continue to insist that there is nothing wrong with religion and that when anything bad happens, it's always the fault of something... anything other than religion.

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• Books on Religion and Religious Beliefs
• Religion 101