Under the Banner of Heaven A Story of Violent Faith

An excellent popular overview of the history of Mormonism in both its mainline and fundamentalist forms. In taking the horrible murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty as his starting point, Krakauer immediately captures the reader's attention and uses his masterful narrating skills throughout the book to present both the facts and (at least to a degree) his own views on the matter. One can see...more

An excellent popular overview of the history of Mormonism in both its mainline and fundamentalist forms. In taking the horrible murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty as his starting point, Krakauer immediately captures the reader's attention and uses his masterful narrating skills throughout the book to present both the facts and (at least to a degree) his own views on the matter. One can see that he has made the proper reasearch into hos immediate topic. He is, however, somewhat lacking in the general understanding of the general phenomenology of religion, as well as the history of religion in general. Thus, to a theologian it is often clear that the book is written from an amateur's point of view.   hide

This book was very educational to me. The book was filled with Mormon history. There was a lot of information in the founding of the Mormon religion and background information on Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. A deep look into Moroni and the delivery of the golden tablets and the translation into english. I was lost in many parts as the book jumped around from different time periods and stories...more

This book was very educational to me. The book was filled with Mormon history. There was a lot of information in the founding of the Mormon religion and background information on Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. A deep look into Moroni and the delivery of the golden tablets and the translation into english. I was lost in many parts as the book jumped around from different time periods and stories and then back again. However the new information I learned explains a lot. If you are interested in different religions this would be a good book to read. I may read it again just to be sure I have all the facts straight about Mormon history.   hide

This book is so many things. It is a fascinating look at an unspeakable crime, an unusual and uniquely American religion, a glimpse of the life and history of the West and a critique of claims of personal religious experience which leaves believers and skeptics alike scratching their heads. The most fascinating part for me was the well written story of the Mormon faith which was woven throughout...more

This book is so many things. It is a fascinating look at an unspeakable crime, an unusual and uniquely American religion, a glimpse of the life and history of the West and a critique of claims of personal religious experience which leaves believers and skeptics alike scratching their heads. The most fascinating part for me was the well written story of the Mormon faith which was woven throughout the book. The history was even handed and left me wanting to know more about the tumultuous history of the LDS and its propensity to view itself as persecuted despite the fact that it has seemingly invited such persecution due to its own arrogance. A highly recommended read that comes with a warning . . . I could not even stomach reading the graphic details of the violent and cold blooded murder of a young mother and her small child. A testimony that fact is indeed stranger than fiction.   hide

It wasn't great Krakauer. There are two stories in the book and they are competing for his interest and our attention. One is the story of the murder of a mother and her infant by people who opposed her religious views. Then the book shifts to the history of Mormonism and how present-day LDS Fundamentalist groups were formed and their influence in Utah and Western USA (and Canada and Mexico) is...more

It wasn't great Krakauer. There are two stories in the book and they are competing for his interest and our attention. One is the story of the murder of a mother and her infant by people who opposed her religious views. Then the book shifts to the history of Mormonism and how present-day LDS Fundamentalist groups were formed and their influence in Utah and Western USA (and Canada and Mexico) is felt. There is a minor detour to the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case. When he finally gets back to the original murder, I felt like I had a lot of background but had lost a real connection to both the victims and their murderers. Still Krakauer is obsessed by his subject(s) and it is a good read.   hide

This is one of the most absorbing non-fiction books I have read in a long time. Critics contend that it is the work of a religious bigot, and that it unfairly attacks the Mormon church since it depicts things such as polygamy, the Fancher party massacre, and some of the attempts by the church to expurgate historical accounts to show things in the best possible light. The narrative...more

This is one of the most absorbing non-fiction books I have read in a long time. Critics contend that it is the work of a religious bigot, and that it unfairly attacks the Mormon church since it depicts things such as polygamy, the Fancher party massacre, and some of the attempts by the church to expurgate historical accounts to show things in the best possible light. The narrative attempts to explain the radical fundamentalism that gave rise to a tragic double-murder of Brenda Lafferty and her 15 month old baby in 1984 at the hands of two of her brothers-in-law. In order to explain the various intersecting fundamentalist groups that influenced the Lafferty brothers, it is necessary to explain something about the history of the Mormon church, which, for good or ill, does have a violent and bloody past. The author does not stint on describing some of the atrocities committed by early church members, nor does he stint on describing the persecution that the religious group suffered at the hands of suspicious neighbors. (I find it extremely interesting that in choosing the Israelites of the Old Testament as a model for the new "chosen people" in North America, Joseph Smith created for his followers some of the same problems that the Israelites found in attempting to create themselves a homeland.) In any case, the book is a fascinating study, within the context of Mormonism--which is unique in the history of major religious movements in that it is so current and well-documented, having occurred in the age of the printing press rather than in the dim past of ancient history and legend--of the impulse that drives people to fundamentalism and the tragic consequences that can occur when faith holds more sway over people than any earthly laws. Chilling.   hide

A compelling and well-researched book, 'Under the Banner of Heaven' prods uncomfortably at the dark underbelly of the Mormon Church and its deep secrets of the past, and allegedly the present. Readers outside of Europe may fail to appreciate just how powerful the Church really is, and how much it's growing; this book will help a lot in clearing the mist away. The author freely admits to changing...more

A compelling and well-researched book, 'Under the Banner of Heaven' prods uncomfortably at the dark underbelly of the Mormon Church and its deep secrets of the past, and allegedly the present. Readers outside of Europe may fail to appreciate just how powerful the Church really is, and how much it's growing; this book will help a lot in clearing the mist away. The author freely admits to changing the direction of the book in the course of researching and writing it, resulting in a loss of some focus along the way, but by and large the reader is kept interested. Recommended.   hide

Horrible and fascinating. What more can you ask for in a read ? This story uses true headlines ripped from modern life which make easy comparison to scenes being played out in contemporary courtroom's in Texas, USA today. For anyone familar with Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter" this book makes a good comparison case and is still so much more present and urgent in terms of fighting for...more

Horrible and fascinating. What more can you ask for in a read ? This story uses true headlines ripped from modern life which make easy comparison to scenes being played out in contemporary courtroom's in Texas, USA today. For anyone familar with Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter" this book makes a good comparison case and is still so much more present and urgent in terms of fighting for women and family rights.I've since also picked up the Book of Mormon and other religious texts with weighty skepticism abound, often finding shock and horror in the foundations of religious belief, because essentially they all spring from the same well, or at least, that's what I've "learned"...Enjoy this read and keep your eyes open out there to the fables that shape our cultures. Turns out there are many parts of America that aren't so "modern" after all.   hide

Wow, this guy can write. His other books have been more adventure, this one is more history, but all are page turners. What a bizarre history, the Mormons, and even more as you realize the characters who started it. Focuses on the fundamentalists in the current day, and helps explain how such "moral" people could engage in such heinous crimes.

John Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" both had me riveted from beginning to end. Now writing on the extremes of religions belief, he details the history of the Mormon church, it's genealogically tangled and sometimes violent past, and a horrific modern-day murder that sprung from its fundamentalist roots. The book is not particularly flattering to those of the LDS faith, but it is...more

John Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" and "Into the Wild" both had me riveted from beginning to end. Now writing on the extremes of religions belief, he details the history of the Mormon church, it's genealogically tangled and sometimes violent past, and a horrific modern-day murder that sprung from its fundamentalist roots. The book is not particularly flattering to those of the LDS faith, but it is nonetheless a gripping and well-researched work that will get you thinking about how religious extremism drives humans to unthinkable acts.   hide