Just an observation from my scripture reading, nothing more.
The books of Helaman and early 3rd Nephi contain many passages that detail the problems created by the dark and secret works of the Gadianton Robbers. This clandestine group worked in the shadows and constantly thwarted the efforts of the government and church, even to the point of quietly controlling key government posts. While it didn't appear that they were able to influence to most righteous saints, they were able to get to the vast majority whose faith wasn't as strong.
The actions and tactics of this group caught my attention, given what is currently going on in the Middle East. While their motives might be different, Al Queda appears to use many of the same techniques employed anciently by the robbers. The most striking similarity is how they employ quiet and guerilla tactics, blending in among the people and using unconventional warfare. They both appeared to be extremely devoted to their cause, to the point of employing fear and elaborate rituals to ensure loyalty. I won't go as far to say that Satan is the author of Al Queda but both groups were set on the destruction of their enemy, the US now and the Church in ancient times.
This observation isn't too significant but it has shown me that human nature is virtually the same, regardless of place or time. The problems, tendencies, conditions that existed thousands of years ago still exist today. That is why I can read the writings of ancient prophets and still benefit from their teachings. The fundamental aspects of life are always the same.
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2 comments:
Jens, why the reluctance to impute a diabolical founding to Al Qaeda? Or, stated differently: What details of Al Qaeda's founding do you think materially differ from that of the Gadianton Robbers?
I guess my problem is that because we know, mostly from Mormon's editorializing (plus the commentary of some modern prophets) that the devil was behind the robbers, we begin to imagine some explicit relationship between Satan and Kishkumen. Isn't it more likely that Satan had exactly the same relationship with Kishkumen that he does with Osama-- that of invisible sponsor and incendiary?
I think that Mormon's willingness to find the spiritual in every day events should lead us not to assume those events were more apparently spiritual, but to view our own events as more spiritual than they appear. Thoughts?
Bell, I guess my hesitance to make a definate connection was due to my incomplete understanding of their (Al Queda) motives.
I feel that some part of their cause- not those related to violence- is sort of legitimate. I can kind of understand their desire to rid themselves of outside colonial interests.
While alot of their hatred is unjustified and the vast majority of their actions are deplorable I still feel that a small shred of their raison d'etre is justified. Maybe I'm not correctly distinguishing them from mainstream islam.
Anyways, I always thought of the Gadiantons as a pure evil who openly espoused Satan as their master. While I deplore Al Queda a small part of me understands their cause...plus I don't think that they are knowingly working in concert with Satan.
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