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"Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:48 pm
by _SteelHead
As symbolically I have eaten of his flesh.

Ritual cannibalism....... What's a little flesh and blood between old friends?

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:48 pm
by _just me
Delicious.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:52 pm
by _Blixa
Its been such a long time since I read Stranger in a Strange Land, Steelhead, but I remember my teenage self thinking there were parallels between Valentine Michael Smith and Joseph Smith. The whole reorganization of the Fosterites, his death and I guess polygamy?

I'd prawly have to read the book again to figure out what it was that made me think that. I've not read it since I was 12 or 13, so I read the earlier version and not the later "restored" one.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:27 am
by _SteelHead
There are marked similarities, and I think Heinlien did it on purpose.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:31 am
by _Blixa
SteelHead wrote:There are marked similarities, and I think Heinlien did it on purpose.


YAY ME!

So I guess I have to read it again.

Thanks!

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:10 am
by _consiglieri
SteelHead wrote:There are marked similarities, and I think Heinlien did it on purpose.


I am pretty sure he makes a direct reference to Joseph Smith in the book.

Something about "once you get people to believe in gold plates from an angel, they will believe anything."

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:14 am
by _Blixa
consiglieri wrote:
SteelHead wrote:There are marked similarities, and I think Heinlien did it on purpose.


I am pretty sure he makes a direct reference to Joseph Smith in the book.

Something about "once you get people to believe in gold plates from an angel, they will believe anything."

All the Best!

--Consiglieri


Ok you've convinced me to re-read it. I've carried this impression all my life, but whenever I read synopses, I'm left wondering just what my teenaged brain put together.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:57 am
by _moksha
That's it!!! When there are eight billion Mormons in the world simulanteously grokking, the Martians will have to relent in blowing up the Earth.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:03 pm
by _Morley
Blixa wrote:Its been such a long time since I read Stranger in a Strange Land, Steelhead, but I remember my teenage self thinking there were parallels between Valentine Michael Smith and Joseph Smith. The whole reorganization of the Fosterites, his death and I guess polygamy?

I'd probably have to read the book again to figure out what it was that made me think that. I've not read it since I was 12 or 13, so I read the earlier version and not the later "restored" one.

I always assumed the same. I was surprised (when I googled Stranger, just now) to find that Joseph Smith isn't mentioned in critiques on the book.

Re: "Grok"ing Jesus

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:37 pm
by _SteelHead
Heinlein made various references to Mormons and the Book of Mormon in a number of his books. I read about everything he wrote during my teens. I think the parallels in Stranger in a Strange land are some of the strongest in his writings.