Been thinking about Old Joe today for some inexplicable reason, and it got me to thinking (a rare thing, I know)- there are few organized religions out there in the world, particularly the Christian variety, whose entire bread and butter seem to revolve around a martyr (other than Jesus Christ himself). Without these martyrs, I have to wonder whether the religions could actually sustain themselves. A lot of peoples' faith seems to revolve around the idea that because someone died in defense of their beliefs, that all the tenets of religion must be true.

To me, this whole idea negates the notion of faith. The Mormons in particular are all about spouting the importance of relying on one's own faith and testimony, but the martyr worship they have going on is, in my mind, basing their entire belief structure on Joseph's "faith".

Rambling, I know, but just something I was thinking about.

"The only difference between suicide and martyrdom is press coverage"
Chuck Palahniuk

And yes, religion is based on the concept of making you feel really really bad about yourself while simultaneously making you feel better than everyone else. Without a martyr its harder to inflict guilt. After all, **insert diety here** died for your **insert religious catch-phrase** and you owe it to him/her/it to live your life according to the principles that he/she/it died to protect.

I'm convinced that the murder of Joseph Smith saved Mormonism.

James Strang was very similar to Smith. Strang even showed everyone his ancient plates that he translated. He had himself crowned king. He practiced some form of polygamy, IIRC. And he was murdered like Smith. After Strang died, his movement did not grow.

I think it was Brigham Young, moving the followers to a place where they could reproduce and grow for a few decades without any hindrance from outsiders.

Someone to say crazy things and die, and someone with a giant stick to drive it home to everyone else.

Just like there was a Lenin and a Stalin.

Joseph - Lenin (foundation and a crazy douche)

Young - Stalin (kept it growing and a sadistic asshole)

I hadn't thought of that before, but there are some interesting parallels.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/15/2011 08:54PM by Makurosu.

Are you a martyr if you are imprisoned and killed for boinking other chaps wives and daughters?

No. A martyr may be nice but it's not necessary

Islam Hinduism, and Scientology are three examples.

Of course one may consider Judaism a "religion of martyrs" I suppose.