Controversy: https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/books/marlo-morgan-mutant-message-dow...

Mutant Message - Down Under by Marlo Morgan is a book full of New Age type philosophy. The author has taken these ideas and framed them in a story about a trip to the Outback of Australia. As she, in the story, journeys through the outback on a walk-about with her characters, they teach her these lessons. She has the characters give her the name "Mutant" and at the end of the story, they give her the responsibility to take this message to the civilized world - hence "Mutant Message".

Some folks seem to think that New Age ideas and Christianity are incompatible. I disagree to some extent. I am a Christian. I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the only begotten SON of GOD and that HIS death on the cross cleansed us of our sin and open the door for reconciliation with the FATHER. Most folks who follow the New Age path tend not to embrace this belief but that does not mean that there is not an element of truth in the things that they do believe. For example, there is power in our words and our thoughts. This is true for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you are a Christian or a New-Ager or have no compelling belief system, there is power in our words and our thoughts.

Some of these elements of truth are framed in the story Marlo Morgan shares in Mutant Message . . .:



As I read through that list, they don't sound particularly impressive but as Marlo made her journey through the Outback and "learned" these truths from the Aboriginal tribe, they seemed to be profound. That speaks to her skill in weaving a story.

I have wondered about the various things that Marlo describes such as the ointment they used for healing, the clever way to keep the flies away, the musical instruments that they played - do all these things have a basis somewhere in fact? I don't know. That also reveals how well Ms. Morgan has constructed this story.

From the very beginning, Marlo revels in "the essence of these wonderful, pure, innocent, loving people". Later in the book, she tells us that JESUS didn't need to come to these people. She had them say: "It wasn't our message. It didn't apply to us because we have not forgotten. We were already living His Truth." As a Christian, I do not care for that idea, of course. I also do not particularly care for stories that make a particular people better than the average fellow. I think that people are people and the issues that happen between people happen in all societies. I do not think that there is any group of people that is completely altruistic. Even Mother Theresa, as self-sacrificing as she was, did not fit that bill.

In that same chapter, she write about a game that they played.The Bible tells us that the Church is One Body with many members. Ms. Morgan tells about a game in which a large leaf is torn into pieces and the tribe puts it back together like a jigsaw puzzle. The lesson of the leaf is that the one leaf is made up of many parts. We are one but we are not all alike. I liked that lesson.

The "Real People" in Mutant Message . . . don't celebrate birthdays. "There isn't special about getting older. It takes no effort, it just happens." Instead, they celebrate getting better - becoming a better person. I liked that idea as well.

Whose ideas were these? I am inclined to believe the critics who do not think that Ms. Morgan ever saw the outback. Because I do, I find her descriptions of the experiences related in the book to be a sign of an amazing imagination. If she did not take this trip, where did she come up with the idea of using a camel bladder to carry her water? Where did those ideas come from? They are very interesting to read about even if they have no basis in fact. I found the story to be quite engaging.

The last line in Mutant Message - Down Under is: "I intend to spend the rest of my life using the knowledge I learned in the Outback. Everything! Even the magic of illusion." I think that Marlo Morgan has done that last part well.

Created Feb 13, 2012 at 9:56am

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Created Feb 13, 2012 at 9:56am • Submit your own review...