More "Mormonisms"

[reddie]

I've always wondered why Mormonism gave rise to our only post-Puritan North American theocracy (at least, the only one I can think of). WI other splinter faiths decided to follow Brigham Young's lead and head off into other sparsely populated territories during the 19th century? What are some other sects you could see doing this, and where?

[Wendell]

I've always wondered why Mormonism gave rise to our only post-Puritan North American theocracy (at least, the only one I can think of). WI other splinter faiths decided to follow Brigham Young's lead and head off into other sparsely populated territories during the 19th century? What are some other sects you could see doing this, and where?
What about the Amish? Granted, they lack a state of their own.

[Darkest]

The Wild West as a home for numerous fanatical religions? Awesome. The lawless frontier becomes a new chaotic holy land. Sweet.

[Keenir]

What about the Amish? Granted, they lack a state of their own.

so do the Moravians....though they nearly had the entire state to themselves (and two states at that)

[NapoleonXIV]

What about the Amish? Granted, they lack a state of their own.

So do the Mormons really, nor are they really a theocracy.

Do you remember the comedy western movie Trinity? the depiction of the religious community was actually somewhat accurate. The depiction of the two brothers that saved them was pure fantasy. The Mormons survived and prospered largely because they finally overcame the repuganance to violence that had caused them to move in the first place

[The Ubbergeek]

There had been a story about an allegated Mormon militia and some murders, or so I remember... what was it? Someone remember that 'templars of mormon' bit?

[NapoleonXIV]

There had been a story about an allegated Mormon militia and some murders, or so I remember... what was it? Someone remember that 'templars of mormon' bit?

The Mountain Meadows massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_Massacre)?

[Tielhard]

Hutterite? Quakers? Shakers? Menonites? Rastas? Black Islam?

[The Ubbergeek]

An earlier Nation of Islam.. Oh, nasty. Those guys can be freaky.

I like that idea. So evil.

Yeah Napy, that was that kind of things. It make interesting RPG scenarios.

[SkyEmperor]

I would like to see a voodoo theocracy in the west. Suppose the mexicans manage to stamp out slavery in texas early on, and hold onto it. The farmers in Texas need a replacement fro slaves, and they get indentured servants to bail on hispanola. these workers, slaves in all but name, revolt, run away, or finish their tenures. they manage to amalgate in New Mexcio/Cimmaron region. they are joined by a number of blacks from new orleans and the carribean, and become a beacon for escaped slaves, soon they run their own underground railroad, and get some kind of country going. what think you?

[Strategos' Risk]

I'm still wondering if Jehovah's Witnesses or Millerites could pull it off.

[drakkon]

I've always wondered why Mormonism gave rise to our only post-Puritan North American theocracy (at least, the only one I can think of). WI other splinter faiths decided to follow Brigham Young's lead and head off into other sparsely populated territories during the 19th century? What are some other sects you could see doing this, and where?

In the long term, all these groups and sects and so forth would simply be overrun by Manifest Destiny.

Millions of "mainstream" Americans would go West, as they did OTL, and any small group that got in their way would be destroyed or assimilated. It would be the same as what happened to the Mormons, only repeated again and again.

So to make this Idea work, you have to get rid of Manifest Destiny. IMHO, doing so would require ASB level changes.

Still... a great Idea:cool:

[aavans]

In the long term, all these groups and sects and so forth would simply be overrun by Manifest Destiny.

Millions of "mainstream" Americans would go West, as they did OTL, and any small group that got in their way would be destroyed or assimilated. It would be the same as what happened to the Mormons, only repeated again and again.

So to make this Idea work, you have to get rid of Manifest Destiny. IMHO, doing so would require ASB level changes.

Still... a great Idea:cool:

Well, since we're talking Mormonism AND changing Manifest Destiny, let's have Joseph Smith Jr. escape martyrdom in Nauvoo in 1844. At the time Joseph Smith Jr. was running for president, and his platform "Views on Government" called for bringing the Native American tribes into the Union as states. Imagine road tripping through the Lakota, Dakota, Sioux, Pawnee, Cheyenne, Paiute, Navajo states...Suppose Joseph Smith Jr. had won the election and the nature of Manifest Destiny changes radically.

Of course, back in the day, statehood for Indian tribes would have meant a great deal of independence from the whims of Washington D.C.

[Imajin]

I don't think Manifest Destiny is anywhere near inevitable... I mean, movement to annex Canada was probably nearly as strong as MD in the late 1700s/early 1800s, and yet Canada managed to remain independant...