Jan van Leiden : the Jospeh Smith of three centuries past

[ulmite]

short version
long version

Personal revelation on command, baptism at the age of reason, the New Jerusalem, apocalyptic prophesies, the communal sharing of all goods and money, and of course polygamy. To the tune of the 16th century, with more beheadings and torture than the 19th century.

There are very very creepy similarities between the two men, and it makes you wonder what the Mormons would have become had they holed up in a fortified town in Missouri or Illinois instead of fleeing every time they were outnumbered.

What is the difference between these two men?

[LSOF]

The most significant difference is probably the lack of speculation on van Leiden's part about the origin of the Native Americans.

[Corsair]

The story of the Munster Rebellion has a suspicious number of elements of early Mormonism. It is the Restoration done entirely through non-divine human means and just a bit of study shows that it's a really embarrassing parallel.

The major way it differs at the end is that the Brigham Young character does not lead the church to a new, promised land where it can thrive. Instead, these Anabaptist versions of early Mormons decide to stay in their Nauvoo and die defending their curious beliefs rather than head west. It's like an incompetent deity was trying out a test version of the Restoration and the experiment failed.

[Emower]

It's like an incompetent deity was trying out a test version of the Restoration and the experiment failed.

I love it when some weird crazy obviously misguided religious movement shows identical parallels to Mormonism. In the words of Nacho Libre, "its the best, I love it!"

[BriansThoughtMirror]

Awesome podcast! That is one heck of a crazy story. I guess American religious freedom did let Mormonism thrive. If it had happened in 16th century Germany, the whole group may have been exterminated!

I think similar things have happened many times in the past. Islam is another version- general apostasy from previously revealed truth is corrected by new revelation through a polygamous prophet. Weird, weird parallels.

[Hagoth]

There's an excellent podcast about it:
http://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardco ... s-of-doom/

Warning: it's over 4 hours long
Promise: it's worth it

[Corsair]

There's an excellent podcast about it:
http://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardco ... s-of-doom/

Warning: it's over 4 hours long
Promise: it's worth it

Bonus: Mormons get a mention for reasons they won't enjoy

[ulmite]

There's an excellent podcast about it:
http://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardco ... s-of-doom/

Warning: it's over 4 hours long
Promise: it's worth it

That would be the long version I linked to

[Hagoth]

There's an excellent podcast about it:
http://www.dancarlin.com/product/hardco ... s-of-doom/

Warning: it's over 4 hours long
Promise: it's worth it

That would be the long version I linked to

Note to self: look before you leap.