Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith in Atheists and Skeptics

Feb 15, 2013 Tamra rated it it was ok

Mormon Fundamentalism = creepy. This book is a good illustration of why we should avoid extremes.

I was intrigued by the Lafferty brothers, their obvious complete insanity, the crimes they committed, and how they reacted to those crimes. I was less intrigued, but still interested, in the stories about Mormon Fundamentalists in general. I was not interested AT ALL in having Krakauer explain current mainstream Mormonism or Mormon history to me. I'm sure he did a bunch of reserach and all, but many ...more

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Jul 22, 2018 Felicia J. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book will make you think until your brain hurts. Through the lens of Mormonism and its myriad fundamentalist splinter groups, it asks provocative questions: When is religious faith praiseworthy, and when is it madness? What makes the beliefs of Ron and Dan Lafferty horrifying, when they are not so different than the beliefs of mainstream religions (and in fact, spring from the history and original theology of Mormonism)? An atheist like me might answer that believing things without evidence ...more

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Mar 23, 2009 Bridget Dupey rated it did not like it

Krakauer's usual skill at riding that fine line between informative and interesting is completely lost in Under the Banner of Heaven. A dense book that captures your attention for a split-second before lowering your heart rate and making your eyelids heavy. This book is so research oriented, that it became a arduous chore to pick up every day. ...more

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Apr 05, 2009 Anita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction

Disturbing look at Mormon history and the violent ramifications of men who think they get their directions directly from god. Horrific descriptions of polygamy, rapes, child pregnancies, and abuse, both emotional and physical.

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