
Early followers of both Islam and Mormonism encountered enmity from those outside the faith, and such hostility led them to move elsewhere. The Muslims fled Mecca to avoid persecution from the polytheists there whom Muhammad had offended, while the Mormons hastily departed repeatedly from one United States region for another, to run from angry mobs and blasphemy laws.
Did intolerance toward them lead the acolytes of Muhammad and those of Joseph Smith to ongoing, permanent intolerance of others? After the death of Muhammad the armies of Islam marched across Egypt and North Africa, into Spain and France. To the East, the Muslims eventually established their rule in Constantinople, almost conquered Vienna, and did conquer large parts of India, with millions of Hindus being killed and enslaved.
Like the early Muslims, the early Mormons in the time of Joseph Smith often found themselves in battle. Their religion started in the United States, in New York state, and then its parishioners traveled to Ohio. Encountering financial trouble there, they then moved on to Missouri. Fights with those outside the faith compelled them to flee to Illinois. The founder of the religion, Joseph Smith, would be killed in that state. To escape further violence the main branch of the religion would travel to Utah. Some Mormon adherents in Utah would then become responsible for the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” of nonbelievers.
If one must have a prophet and a god, are there any nonviolent prophets and gods who are preferable?
Like the early Muslims, the early Mormons in the time of Joseph Smith often found themselves in battle. The religion started in the United States, in Nework state, and then its parishioners traveled to Ohio. Encountering financial trouble there, they then moved on to Missouri. Fights with those outside the faith compelled them to flee to Illinois. The founder of the religion, Joseph Smith, would be killed in that state. To escape further violence the main branch of the religion would travel to Utah. Some Mormon adherents in Utah would then become responsible for the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” of nonbelievers.
Did intolerance toward them lead the acolytes of Muhammad and those of Joseph Smith to ongoing, permanent intolerance of others? After the death of Muhammad the armies of Islam marched across Egypt and North Africa, into Spain and France. To the East, the Muslims eventually established their rule in Constantinople, almost conquered Vienna, and did conquer large parts of India, with millions of Hindus being killed and enslaved.
Like the early Muslims, the early Mormons in the time of Joseph Smith often found themselves in battle. Their religion started in the United States, in New York state, and then its parishioners traveled to Ohio. Encountering financial trouble there, they then moved on to Missouri. Fights with those outside the faith compelled them to flee to Illinois. The founder of the religion, Joseph Smith, would be killed in that state. To escape further violence the main branch of the religion would travel to Utah. Some Mormon adherents in Utah would then become responsible for the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” of nonbelievers.
If one must have a prophet and a god, are there any nonviolent prophets and gods who are preferable?
Like the early Muslims, the early Mormons in the time of Joseph Smith often found themselves in battle. The religion started in the United States, in Nework state, and then its parishioners traveled to Ohio. Encountering financial trouble there, they then moved on to Missouri. Fights with those outside the faith compelled them to flee to Illinois. The founder of the religion, Joseph Smith, would be killed in that state. To escape further violence the main branch of the religion would travel to Utah. Some Mormon adherents in Utah would then become responsible for the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” of nonbelievers.