The revealed religion of Cliven Bundy:
“If the standoff with the Bundys was wrong, would the Lord have been with us?” he asked, noting no one was killed as tensions escalated. “Could those people that stood (with me) without fear and went through that spiritual experience … have done that without the Lord being there? No, they couldn’t.”
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Explainer – The Bundy Militia’s Particular Brand Of Mormonism
“I’m Captain Moroni, from Utah.”
That’s how one militiaman at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge responded to OPB’s Amanda Peacher when she asked for his name.
That name is not a silly response to deflect responsibility: In many ways, it encapsulates a deeply intertwined anti-federal sentiment mixed with Mormon symbolism. Captain Moroni is a crucial figure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He’s also a heroic figure for anti-federalist extremists.
In the modern day west, Captain Moroni has become one of several powerful symbols for the Bundy militia’s anti-governmental extremism.
Who Is Captain Moroni?
Take yourself too seriously and you invite mockery.
The revealed religion of Ammon Bundy:
“I got this urge that I needed write something,” Bundy said. “I asked the good Lord…I need some help. And he gave me that help. The Lord is not pleased what has happened with the Hammonds.”
In Oregon there are men -many of whom profess devotion to a church based on patriarchy – who are brandishing guns and are making what looks like to me an attempt to be heroic males in an overly dramatic way … and are doing so hiding behind of facade of bogus patriotism.
A patriarchal order is the historical domain of most fundamentalist Christian religions. Nowadays in such an order the male dominates more by custom than an enforced demand that women conform and comply. Nevertheless in a patriarchal order there is an inherent attitude of “leadership superiority” in play.
How many males truly have an awareness and willingly consider – even explore, if you will – their own feminine side?
I believe such a dual aspect is a normal part of being human and that there exists no intent by any Higher Power that the male is expected to assume the leadership role in all venues.
Curmudgeon at Work 