Mythunderstanding Religion

Myths:

• Mormons have horns that they hide underneath their hair

• Mormons must pay 50% of all their income to the church
• Mormons are not Christians
• Mormons are misogynists
• Mormons are polygamists
• Mormons believe that Halloween is devil worshipping
• Mormons have a secret Room of Tears (I mean, really?)

Misunderstandings:

• Mormons must have multiple children

• Mormons can’t have caffeine
• Mormons are Creationists
• Mormons have their own bible

 

As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, these are some of the fallacies I have come across. Some are radical and some possess small grains of truth that have been both warped and misunderstood. However, all bear something in common: they have caused those who believed them to misjudge the members of the LDS church.

My religion is a central part of my identity. It has influenced every major decision I have made, and whether it is realized or not, this is true with everyone. We make decisions based on how we view ourselves, our roles, and our futures. Although these views are not solely composed of religious beliefs, religion, or the lack thereof, certainly plays a major role in forming them.

Understanding others’ beliefs is the key to understanding why they do what they do, so understanding different religions is of paramount importance. Yet, few of us attempt to genuinely understand any religion but our own.

For example, consider these dates:

• July 4th 1776 - The Declaration of Independence is adopted, officially declaring America a free land.
• August 28, 1963 - Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his renowned “I Have a Dream” speech.
• September 11, 2001 -  al-Qaeda terrorists hijack four airplanes and crash them into the American World Trade Center, killing themselves, the passengers, and thousands of civilians.

These events should be familiar to any American. Since we were small children, we have been taught about the tremendous impact they have had, and are still having, on our country. Yet, few understand the religions that greatly influenced the founding fathers, the face of the civil rights movement, and the executors of the greatest terrorist attack on America. The vast majority of us remain ignorant of the very religions that have indirectly made such a mark on our country, not to mention the hundreds of other religions that exist and continue to impact our country. Many accept the first rumor heard as truth, neglecting to look any farther (even if that “truth” is sometimes as radical as humans having horns or secret rooms where tears are collected).

I, for one, am guilty of this blind acceptance. It was as I reflected upon all of the falsehoods that have been spread about my religion, that I recognized my lack of knowledge concerning the major religions of the world. Understanding other people’s beliefs is critical because with the understanding of beliefs comes the insight into motivations, so  I decided to do an ELI on religion. Realistically, I cannot learn about all 19 of the major world religions in one semester, so I chose Hinduism and Buddhism. This was not an arbitrary choice, but  reflected my extreme ignorance concerning two of the most significant religions in the world.

I invite everyone to join me as I attempt to illuminate the facts and discard the distortions!

~Annica

"Numbers of adherents of major religions, their geographical distribution, date founded, and

sacred texts." Religions of the world: numbers of adherents; growth rates. N.p., n.d.