Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

by Jon Krakauer | Nonfiction |
ISBN: 1400032806 Global Overview for this book
Registered by ladyveg of Baraboo, Wisconsin USA on 7/16/2006
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by ladyveg from Baraboo, Wisconsin USA on Sunday, July 16, 2006
I loved his first book, "Into the Wild," and am excited to have this one. The subject is fascinating.

Synopsis:
Amazon.com
In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered the wife and infant daughter of their younger brother Allen. The crimes were noteworthy not merely for their brutality but for the brothers' claim that they were acting on direct orders from God. In Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer tells the story of the killers and their crime but also explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism from which the two emerged. The Mormon Church was founded, in part, on the idea that true believers could speak directly with God. But while the mainstream church attempted to be more palatable to the general public by rejecting the controversial tenet of polygamy, fundamentalist splinter groups saw this as apostasy and took to the hills to live what they believed to be a righteous life. When their beliefs are challenged or their patriarchal, cult-like order defied, these still-active groups, according to Krakauer, are capable of fighting back with tremendous violence. While Krakauer's research into the history of the church is admirably extensive, the real power of the book comes from present-day information, notably jailhouse interviews with Dan Lafferty. Far from being the brooding maniac one might expect, Lafferty is chillingly coherent, still insisting that his motive was merely to obey God's command. Krakauer's accounts of the actual murders are graphic and disturbing, but such detail makes the brothers' claim of divine instruction all the more horrifying. In an age where Westerners have trouble comprehending what drives Islamic fundamentalists to kill, Jon Krakauer advises us to look within America's own borders. --John Moe --

Journal Entry 2 by ladyveg from Baraboo, Wisconsin USA on Sunday, October 15, 2006
Mostly fascinating. A few times it's a little dry, but worth the effort.

What struck me when reading this is how self-serving the Mormon faith (especially the fundamentalist) seems to be, starting with Joseph Smith himself. It is so transparent. He is the only one who sees the angel or the tablets, and his revelations benefit himself greatly. The modern fundamentalists continue to have "revelations" that single themselves out in positive ways, giving themselves free rein to do whatever they damn well please, including participating in plural marriage, committing incest, and beating their wives. I'm generalizing, of course.

Yes, transparent, yet they don't see it when it's pointed out to them. They bristle. They sue.

But when I think about it, I think of many strict Christian religions. Self-serving? Women can't vote in the church. Women can't be ushers. The man is the head of the household and the woman is to be subservient. Homosexuals are sinners and an abomination according to the Old Testament, yet (and we've all heard this argument before) there are many bizarre laws in the OT which aren't followed anymore. But that gives some Christian fundamentalists the right to judge and treat homosexuals in a hateful manner. Or treat their women like housecleaners and babymakers.

This discussion could be had for many faiths. It's difficult not to judge the Mormons as a bunch of crackpots who believe in some ridiculous things, and I think I still do. But I was raised believing that the world is 6000 years old, man/God was born of a virgin and raised from the dead, a snake could talk, a prophet rode a chariot to heaven. Sounds kind of crackpot to me.

But that's the definition of faith. If it were easy to believe, faith wouldn't be necessary.

Anyway, good book.

Journal Entry 3 by ladyveg at Public Library in Baraboo, Wisconsin USA on Thursday, October 26, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (10/26/2006 UTC) at Public Library in Baraboo, Wisconsin USA

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Either outside, or in main entryway.

Journal Entry 4 by wingAnonymousFinderwing on Friday, October 27, 2006
Started reading this book a year ago but didn't finish. Better luck this time.

CAUGHT IN BARABOO WISCONSIN USA

Journal Entry 5 by gjers from Baraboo, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Started reading this book a year ago but didn't finish it. Had better luck this time.
Many religions have fundementalist elements that take speritual beliefs and actions way beyond the main stream. This is especially true of the Mormons as described in this book.
I have only good things to say about the Mormons that I know as well as believers of Islam that I know.
Why do some religions breed more extream fundementalits than other religions?

Journal Entry 6 by gjers at Washington Square Mall in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota USA on Monday, December 25, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (12/18/2006 UTC) at Washington Square Mall in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota USA

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