Printing press Quote by Jon Krakauer
““I was irresistibly drawn to write about Latter-Day Saints not only because I already knew something about their theology, and admired much about their culture, but also because of the utterly unique circumstances in which their religion was born: the Mormon Church was founded a mere 173 years ago, in a literate society, in the age of the printing press. As a consequence, the creation of what became a worldwide faith was abundantly documented in firsthand accounts. Thanks to the Mormons, we have been given an unprecedented opportunity to appreciate--in astonishingly detail--how an important religion came to be.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Into the Wild, 1996, null
The Mormon faith’s rapid rise is uniquely documented due to its recent origin, literate culture, and printing technology, offering a detailed case study of religious formation.
In simple terms: Mormon origins are well recorded.
Key Takeaway
Study how modern communication shapes religious growth.
Themes
religion
history
documentation
media
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
historical
observational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- religious studies
- media analysis
Key Concepts
formation
print culture
modernity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does extensive documentation reveal about faith development?
- How might oral traditions differ?
A Different Perspective
It may overemphasize documentation at the expense of lived experience.
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