Sounds like it was loosely based on the LDS. Turtle Fan 18:45, 6 May 2008 (UTC)
- Very loosely at this point. It put me more in mind of the various freelove cults that appeared in the 19th century at first.
- The LDS similarities jumped out as the story progressed. The founder of the HUD is named Samuel Jones (same initials as Joseph Smith, Jones is almost as common as Smith, etc.), everyone is paranoid that the Devotees are more loyal to the House than to the country, there is a widely read holy text, that sort of thing.
- The big intriguing difference is that, at this point, the HUD's founding doesn't appear to be as bloodly an affair as the LDS'. TR 19:15, 6 May 2008 (UTC)
Having just read The Scarlet Band it strikes me that the house also has similarities to the church that the protagonist of Heinlien's Stranger in a Strange Land forms, not just the free love but also the belief that everyone and everything is a manifestation of God. The greeting that members give is "Thou art God" which is the basic tenet of their faith. I mention this because HT is a big fan of Heinlein. ML4E 23:55, April 22, 2011 (UTC)
- Put it in. Turtle Fan 03:22, April 23, 2011 (UTC)
And speaking of the HUD, I wish HT had been a bit more explicit on exactly why they're such a major force in the story. Audubon, Frederick Radcliff, Athelstan Helms--All any of them ever revealed was that the articles of the faith were kind of out there by the standards of most major Christian sects. TSB makes it clear that they were hated by the powers that be, but does precious little to explain why the seedier side of Atlantean politics should feel threatened by them. Turtle Fan 03:22, April 23, 2011 (UTC)