The Grand Illusion
Are you a Mormon?
No. I’ve actually mentioned my semi-religious affiliation in several past blog posts, but I’ll give a more complete explanation. I grew up in a household that was nominally Methodist, decided when I was about thirteen that I wanted to be an Episcopalian, and spent about ten years as a relatively devout Episcopalian — youth group president and acolyte/altar boy — until I went to college. The subsequent events of my life made me increasingly wary of organized religion, and at present, I describe myself as an agnostic Anglican, because I can neither deny nor affirm the existence of a deity and because I love the language and liturgy of the original King James Bible and the original Book of Common Prayer. Because my wife and I have lived in Utah for well over twenty years, have an above average number of children, and because I’ve occasionally written about the LDS faith, both in the future and in alternate worlds, as in The Ghost of the Revelator or The Parafaith War, and because I eschew strong profanity, graphic sex, and excessive and gratuitous violence in my writing,there has been occasional speculation that I might be LDS. I’m not.
This made me smile. I consider myself high-anglican for some quite similar reasons to you. Have you read Religion for atheists by Alain de Botton? It is a light yet worthy read in this space. I’m also going back to reading stoic writings at the moment.
I am just beginning to read ‘Haze’ for the first time and I concluded that you were not a ‘Saint’.
I am also a Methodist turned Anglican from England and I note that you often use English words rather than American alternatives such as ‘lorry.’
Sometimes, the English words just fit better, or so it seems to me. And no, I’m not LDS, although I’ve done a great deal of research on that faith and its history, including parts that many members would prefer not to recall.
I’ve always appreciated your critical look at religion and government in your writing.
I must say, I squeed (high pitched squeal of glee) when my sister had told me that she met you and was able to ask you some questions.
My sister is named Jessica, she met you at a writers convention.
She mentioned to you that many of your characters, in the Recluce series, have fiery red hair, and did your wife or other significant female in your life have red hair. She indicated that you did not see that trend. I must admit, I wished I had fiery red hair, after reading the first Recluce book, its been my absolute favorite series.
I appreciate that you do not fill your books with gratuitous sex and nasty language. Probably one of the most redeeming qualities that I love about your Recluse books.
I am beyond excited to see that you plan more Recluce. But I have them all, and can re-read them whenever I choose.
All the best to you sir.
I follow your methodology, describing myself as and Agnostic Catholic. I think most Roman Catholics would say there is no such thing. I have only just discovered your writing and am very much enjoying the fact that you leave the sex in the bedroom, the language on the street, and the violence at a distance. Refreshing. I have started with the Imager Series, as it was recommended to me. What would you recommend next?
If you want to stay with fantasy, you might try the Recluce Saga.
I was away from church (not out borrowing trouble, just out) through college and a while afterwards, but eventually went back. I had left because of misbehavior that was tolerated and, to some degree, because I felt that it was possible to define right and wrong without the existence of God. After much thought, I realized that while I had left the church in response to a problem, it was perhaps an opportunity I could have used to make things better; at the time I thought of it as a problem for the adults who were leaders in the church but now realize that titles aren’t what makes leaders. And after many years of reflection, I just don’t see a way to have a stable, free society when the majority don’t choose to believe in the existence of God. It is wrong to try and force belief, any belief – but being a good example seems to be all God wants before he works his way into your neighbors’ hearts.
I’ve just started The Magic of Recluce, so maybe I am speaking out of turn, but it feels like that time away was my time as a dangergeld. It certainly feels like Lerris may come to a different conclusion than me, given the number of books in the series. 🙂
I used to be an evangelical agnostic, but I have moved on from there. I am looking at a possible project in this area. Is there a way I could get in touch with you? (I no longer feel any need to be pushy so if not then sorry to have bothered you.
You can reach me through the email here on the website.
Thank you. I have looked for such, but I suspect that my phone is making the interface harder to use. Sadly the phone is the only means I have available until the weather changes] allowing me to move. Come winter I will try on something with a larger screen. In the meantime I will keep looking.
Again thanks you. Amazon tells me that you have just released a new book. I shall go and admire it… All the best,
Rufus
Now I’m curious. How many children do you have?
Between us, my wife and I have eight.
The reason I thought you might be Mormon is that like Michael Allred, you almost always have the relationship between a couple at the center of your fiction.
I think any book you’ve written that included “Mormons” makes it clear you’re not one, lol.
I am very glad that the great majority of your books lack “strong profanity, graphic sex, and excessive and gratuitous violence”, among other things. I wish more authors, including some Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) authors, would do the same.
Bingo. Decided portrayal of future Mormons as militant zealots (Revenants, etc.) is kind of a giveaway. Obvious Utah resident with heavy usage of Deseret area.