Sunny is Great

I am an agnostic. I am not violently opposed to religions but I cannot say that i am spiritual or have strong faith. Still, I am quite interested in religions and yesterday I stumbled across the Mormons and the whole trial involving 416 children. The problem takes place in the sect or ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) in Texas. This group of people are polygamists. They believe that men should have at least three wives. This indeed is an issue. However, the staggering problems at this point are the child abuse and underage marriage.

The whole incident started with a phone call to the police, which reported the child abuse and underage marriage. After this, the police investigated the complex and this led to the trial involving the custody of 416 children. The police found that children at the age of 16 were getting pregnant and coerced to marry men that were much more older. Spiritual marriages, physical punishment, and sexual abuse were also evident. I suppose nobody knows how the trial will end. However, the parents do not want the State to take away their children. They assert that the cases of coercion and abuse are only particular cases and that most of their children are safe and happy. Yet, many are unconvinced of this view. Although it is true that taking away the children will be a phenomenal decision that will be followed with much chaos and disruption, skeptics believe that the women think that their children are fine since they are brainwashed. People say that the women and children are indoctrinated to accept the “beliefs”, and think that what they go through is perfectly normal.

This is an unbelievable tragedy in many ways. However, i could not help but focusing on the religion itself. Our society has norms that people accept and think are proper and normal. The Mormons simply have a different set of norms. I am in no way defending the acts of the Mormons. I truly think that what is happening there is condemnable and deplorable. Yet, it is just so queer and ironic to me because the people of FLDS are (at least from what i see) really convinced that what they believe and practice are right and that are they are following the laws of God. Consequently, from the view of them, the whole outer world might seem to be chaotic and blasphemous. They may think that we are the ones that are brainwashed. In fact, the Mormons can think that having one wife is a sin. However, some can say that the FLDS is wrong since they are conducting deeds that are unacceptable, that are against human rights, and that are against people’s beliefs. However, the yardstick of what is “right”, “acceptable”, and “normal” are provided by us, who do not have the same ideologies as the Mormons.

I have a firm stance when it comes to ethics and human rights, but i had to question whether my stance can be valid in the position of those who have drastically different positions from me. Furthermore, i had to question whether accusing the Mormons is the proper thing to do. Obviously, what they are doing must be stopped RIGHT NOW from the point of OUR VIEW, but when we really think about it the only thing that they are doing wrong is following their beliefs and the word of their God.

Once again, i have to stress the fact that i believe that everything happening in the ranch of the FLDS is absolutely intolerable. However, since i am not attached to any of the religions i think i am able to view this whole issue from many different or somewhat outrageous angles.

I know that this must be a daunting and rather daring question to ask…but i wonder whether what we think is right is really right, and whether our thoughts and norms are merely the outcome of the brainwash by the general public.

I hope the answers are what i want them to be, and i hope all the people (especially the women and children) suffering now from the crisis of FLDS can soon find peace.

The FLDS ranch or complex in Texas

(from http://standeyo.com/NEWS/06_Religion/060310.polygamist.html)