John Crowley's LJ (RSS Feed)
12-29-2007, 02:07 AM
I was interested in Mike Huckabee's question. or ponder, as to whether Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. This was immediately classifies as both ignorant and boorish, but is it? Is there anyone attending on this journal with enough expertise in Mormon theology to discuss this calmly?
In fact of course it's a standard feature of certain Gnostic cults ("Gnostic" interpreted in the very general sense of "believing in secret doctrines") that Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that their falling out over God's favor is at the heart of the War in Heaven by which Lucifer was cast out. The Hebrew bible analogs are Cain/Able, Jacob/Esau, David/Jonathan and other pairs. I'm under the impression, from Harold Bloom's book The New American Religion, which takes a profound view of Smith and the Mormon speculation, that Mormon theology is a lot more different from standard Judaeo-Christian than is commonly thought, or than current Mormon spokesman like to talk about. The secret side, though, may be just what;s gaining them the converts.
(Original Post) (http://crowleycrow.livejournal.com/75004.html)
In fact of course it's a standard feature of certain Gnostic cults ("Gnostic" interpreted in the very general sense of "believing in secret doctrines") that Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that their falling out over God's favor is at the heart of the War in Heaven by which Lucifer was cast out. The Hebrew bible analogs are Cain/Able, Jacob/Esau, David/Jonathan and other pairs. I'm under the impression, from Harold Bloom's book The New American Religion, which takes a profound view of Smith and the Mormon speculation, that Mormon theology is a lot more different from standard Judaeo-Christian than is commonly thought, or than current Mormon spokesman like to talk about. The secret side, though, may be just what;s gaining them the converts.
(Original Post) (http://crowleycrow.livejournal.com/75004.html)