MORMON FANATICISM

            Webster defines fanaticism as “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.”  Fanaticism means extremism like we see among Islamic terrorists.  In studying fanaticism, especially known fanatics, these individuals are super selfish – better yet, narcissists and megalomaniacs.  Their needs, their desires, their points of view invariably come first over subordinates and those they influence and rule over.

            Although fanaticism is common place in politics and all religions, priesthood issues celebrated by Mormonism increases the chances of fanaticism. 

            Priesthood is synonymous with authority.  The zealot is inclined to take authority to the extreme.  Past aberrant behavior of Mormon polygamist shows that deviancy, or stupid behavior is more apt to occur with individuals or independent polygamists like Tom Green and Brian David Mitchell or the leaders of polygamist groups like Warren Jeffs and Jim Harmston. There is one other troublesome factor that seems to be common among these types and that is the personality disorders of narcissism and megalomania.  These personality types are often psychopathic, the modern equivalent of sociopathic – the classic characteristics being (a) unable to learn from experience (recidivism) and (b) indifference, or being without feelings of guilt.  Warren Jeffs and Tom Green kept repeating their stupid stunts until the law got fed up or were pressured into taking action.

            Stalin and Hitler were megalomaniacs.  Hitler for example started out by giving the German people new meaning and purpose after a humiliating World War I defeat and surrender.  But as he became intoxicated with god-like power he turned into a guiltless mass murderer.  In the last days of World War II, finally admitting to himself that  Germany had been defeated once again, he refused to surrender, choosing suicide over capture.  He wanted the German people and German nationalism to die with him. 

            As pointed out, the narcissist and megalomaniac personalizes are super selfish.  Only he has importance.  Everything and everyone else revolves around him and are expendable.   

            At the present time it is doubtful that the various polygamist leaders will do anything stupid or permit their true believers to do anything stupid.  But once everything dies down and societies’ fears shift to other concerns, the deviant true believers will once again crawl out of their holes and raise their ugly heads.

            Legal pundits predict that it is only a matter of time until the courts decriminalize the practice of polygamy – placing polygamy and same sex marriages on a politically correct par.  Many of these pundits also predict that abuse or stupid acts will decrease.  However, it is my prediction that time will show that decriminalization, like alcohol and recreational drugs, will break down inhibitions and there will be a new surge of deviant behavior. 

            Priesthood is means to authority and power which leads to defiance.  The more defiant the individual, the more “the illusion of invulnerability” comes into play. 

            Same sex marriages and legalized polygamy are symptoms of a socialistic trend.  Liberalizing deviant morals, like giving amnesty to illegal immigrants may win votes and increase the size of government, increasing government’s power. But once government achieves absolute power it is just a hop, skip and a little jump to communism or some other form of despotism. 

            If I am right then you homosexuals and Mormon polygamists should enjoy your eroticism while you can because your suspected obsession with sexual anarchism has blinded you of your participation in allowing political revolutionists leading this country down the patch of socialism and despotism.  Morality will then become what the despot says it is.

            Were the Defendants in the Hill case fanatics?  No.  Jeff Norman, Matthews and Putvin were con men and larcenists who used religion to win the trust of true believers – i.e. suckers. Owen Allred was sucked into the pattern of criminal activity.  By the time he realized what he had been sucked into and wanted to get out, it was too late.  He was coerced and manipulated into staying.  According to Owen, Putvin threatened him while LaMoine Jenson watched and did nothing to defend him.  It makes one wonder why Owen chose LaMoine Jenson to succeed him.