Christianity's Degrees of Insanity

The seeds of Lynn E. Rhoderick's religious insanity were sown in childhood, when he became aware of a conflict between his mother's biblical theology and his father's "cowboy religion." In 1953, Rhoderick began a religious quest to determine the direction of his life. He was torn between becoming a Baptist minister to please his mother and his father's desire for him to remain on the farm. The author's quest led him to a tour of military duty in Korea before pursuing a college degree. However, Rhoderick's military and college experiences caused him to question traditional Christian beliefs and the virtues of capitalism. In 1963, he converted to Mormonism, hoping he had found answers to his unresolved theological conflicts. His intense study of Mormon history and theology, however, convinced him otherwise. In 1977, Rhoderick was introduced to a mysterious book claiming to be "the most recent presentation of truth" to Earth. His attempt to interest others in the book set his feet upon the "sure pathway to trouble." The author's story about his degree of religious insanity provides an interesting psychological case study.